Boltanski artwork celebrates life and death

A 50-metre-long steel installation by French artist Christian Boltanski is on display at the Sydney Festival.

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A visitor looks at an installation by French artist Christian Boltanski. (AAP)

As part of the work, images of more than 600 newborns from Poland circulate through 16 tonnes of scaffolding, similar to a printing press. 

Artist Christian Boltanski said the work celebrated individuality.

"We are like who we are because our parents made love at this precise moment," he said.

"One second after we should be totally different. Perhaps you should be a boy and I should be a girl and we should be totally different."

On either side of the room is a tally of birth and deaths around the globe.

Curator Lisa Havilah said the work was captivating.

"It's full of complex ideas but it can also just be read as just an amazing sculptural object," she said.


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By Julia Calixto

Source: SBS


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