Containbow – People in Perth Love This New Public Artwork in Fremantle

Could this new public artwork soon become one of Perth’s biggest tourism attractions?

Containbow, as it’s being called, was created by local artist Marcus Canning. It’s located just off Canning Highway, near the old Fremantle traffic bridge, overlooking the Swan River. The artwork – commissioned by the City of Fremantle – is already becoming an icon.

Containbow is huge. It’s made up of 9 customer coloured intermodal shipping containers, all joined together to make a 10 metre high ‘Rainbow arch’ on Beach Reserve. The piece spans 19-meters in length and weighs an estimated 66 tonnes.

“(Containbow) Rainbow is a new iconic entry statement for the portside City of Fremantle – visible from a range of major entry arteries – from the water, from the air, from rail as well as car,” Artist Marcus Canning said.

“Its presence is as architectural as it is sculptural, awe inspiring for the pedestrian to engage with, a beacon of welcome that is instantly recognisable from afar….(it’s) associated with dreams, flights of fancy and the escapism of fantasy. It’s a universal symbol of hope as well as aspiration.”

“The rainbow is a symbol of many things including alternative and counter cultural hippy styles and aesthetics, a distinctive and ongoing element of the Freo character,” Canning said.

Containbow is an instant hit on social media, with photos of the artwork going viral on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook in the days after it was installed, even before the official opening.

Photographer Richard Lefroy posted this picture to Instagram. An instant hit.

#Repost @richardlefroy ・・・ Last night I checked out this new piece of public art in #Freo by Marcus Canning. It had only just been put up the day before. The moon was out but I brought along a couple of my own lights too to brighten things up from below. 365 Project // Day 886 – richardlefroy.com.au/365-project @fremantlestory #fremantlestory #rainbow

A photo posted by So Perth (@so.perth) on Aug 14, 2016 at 4:19am PDT

Brilliant work #Fremantle.#Rainbow of Love.Public art.#pride. #seacontainer @tweetperth @fremantlestory @perthlife_ pic.twitter.com/dgvzPjn8uv

— Vanessa Brown (@nessa_b117) August 13, 2016

Two cranes constructed this massive sea container #artwork this arvo in #Freo https://t.co/e0V4i1dUS5 pic.twitter.com/RqTJ0JXCoJ

— Tweet Perth (@tweetperth) August 12, 2016

Coincidence??? #fremantle

A photo posted by Tame Impala (@tame__impala) on Aug 13, 2016 at 10:34pm PDT

A photo posted by @freyapeter on Aug 14, 2016 at 1:44am PDT

A photo posted by Rebekah (@_rebekahm_) on Aug 14, 2016 at 1:21am PDT

A video posted by Adil Bux (@adilbux) on Aug 13, 2016 at 1:45am PDT

A photo posted by Scott Davie (@scotty_davie) on Aug 12, 2016 at 11:23pm PDT

Video : Timelapse of Containbow construction

Freo Mayor David Pettit said he hoped the artwork would “foster conversation and debate.”

“It’s big, it’s bold and colourful and very Freo. As a city of artists we have commissioned a dynamic artwork that has been conceived, engineered and produced in Western Australia and represents the ingenuity of our arts industry.”

What do you think of the artwork?

Earlier Story: Rainbow Sea Container Artwork installed in Fremantle