My Hubble

Peter Hennessey’s bold and intricately constructed large-scale sculptures and multimedia works are imbued with both symbolic intensity and a sense of familiarity.

Born from his fascination with scientific phenomena and popularised mediagenerated events, My Hubble (the universe turned in on itself) (2010) debuted in the Industrial Precinct of Cockatoo Island as an life-size ‘re-enactment’ of the Hubble Space Telescope – a space-based observatory that has revolutionised astronomy by providing deep and clear views of the universe. With the aim of giving the viewer a unique, physical experience of the object, its construction – the work is about the size of a tram – is made from plywood and steel and simultaneously enacts the scale and detail of the original. But here, the telescopic function is reversed and visitors are encouraged to play with, modify and create their own mini universes on the ground, which are then reflected by the telescope into the heavens.

My Hubble was presented on Cockatoo Island as part of the 17th Biennale of Sydney (2010).