Suikinkutsu, Brisbane

A Kyoto garden master Mr Kubo Yoshinobu of Kubo Zouen installed Australia’s second Suikinkutsu at the Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia (the first in Tasmania, blog 14 Jan). The Roma Street Suikinkutsu is part of the Sound Garden being completed with the Arts Queensland’s public art funding art+place. Mr Kubo, who volunteered to help build Suikinkutsu in Kodama forest in 2005 because he “wanted to be pat of the history making”, again helped make an important history. At the hatsuneshiki (30 Jan, 09), the first sound ceremony, to celebrate the completion of Suikinkutsu, Uncle Joey Kirk of Turrbul People, the traditional owner of the land, conducted a smoking ceremony by burning two kinds of gum leaves. The water poured by Mr Kubo played the first sound of the harp, and Uncle Joey listened. It was a beautiful moment of cultural exchange - a new layer of culture was accepted into the ancient land. The harp will be soon surrounded by glass mosaic of fresh water eel, a major Dreaming of Turrbul People. The history making continues. (Construction of harp was assisted by Hideki Okubo, Simon Wearne, Jason Hilder. Photo: Simon Wearne).