WHEN world-renowned sculptor Akio Makigawa was told Ballarat residents would see his sculptural installation in Camp St as a tribute to local footy hero Tony Lockett, he laughed.
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Akio's towering, dramatic, minimalist, stainless steel celebration of energy and life, ''Point to the Sky'', featured mounted seed pods at its peak _ not footballs.
It is a measure of the Japanese born Akio's humour and lifelong residence in Australia that he understood the reference and wasn't offended by it.
The installation contains two forms, a smaller more rectangle form, and the more obvious tower-like form. Both begin at the base as a robust entity designed to represent the house; the right to live, and to have shelter, and as a place for gathering.
According to the artist the house form grows into a tower to symbolise the achievements of mankind and, in common with the idea of the Eureka Stockade, a stand made to protect the rights of the community.
The top seed pod is gold, cementing the connection with Ballarat as the centre of the gold rush in Victoria, as well as representing the sun as the source of life.
The installation is made from fabricated stainless steel with a scotchbrite matt finish. The gold pod has been coloured electrochemically.
Sadly, Akio didn't live long enough to see his last major commission put into place. He died last Christmas Eve, leaving his wife, the internationally recognised jeweller Carlier Makigawa to complete the job.
Akio's presence is still felt by Carlier, who refers to him as though he is still here, and by art technician Robert Hook who built ''Point to the Sky'' in Melbourne and oversaw its delicate installation yesterday.
The sculpture is the first major work which will point the way to the Camp St arts precinct.
The City of Ballarat's acting chief executive officer David Miller said yesterday the sculpture was ''a beacon or a pointer to the new arts precinct'' that makes a very important statement about Ballarat.
''It represents growth and the future and the creative and cultural life of the city,'' he said.
Mr Miller hopes Arts Minister Mary Delahunty will officially unveil the sculpture when the treatment of the podium area is complete within a few weeks.
The $120,000 commission will require bluestone landscaping around its base and lights embedded in the pavement so it can act as a beacon at night.
The reflective surface of the piece is designed to capture the changing light of day and the four seasons.
