Pandas on parade
Two
UniSA-educated artists have lent their talents to an Adelaide Zoo
fundraiser in the lead up to the arrival of giant pandas, Wang Wang
and Funi from China.
Former South Australian School of Art students Tegan Hale and Niki Sperou were both selected to paint one of 10 giant fibreglass pandas in the colours or a motif of a corporate sponsor, in this case the Adelaide Crows Foundation and Lynch Meyer Lawyers respectively.
The pandas were then put on display around Adelaide with the aim of not only raising money for the upkeep of the Adelaide Zoo giant pandas when they arrive, but to promote the organisations supporting the project.
For Niki Sperou (pictured), the project was not only a chance to design a unique panda for Lynch Meyer but the opportunity to create an engaging piece of public art.
"I’ve fashioned him to look like a Barrister with the use of quirky materials, and the firm has nicknamed him ‘You Soo, Wee Win’, so it’s quite a distinct look for the panda," she said.
"When he was put on display at WOMAD it was unbelievable, children were crawling all over him and playing around him. The pandas certainly grab your attention and as an artist that’s great recognition and it’s also helping to raise money and awareness for a really exciting project at the zoo."