Dividing opinions ... the the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in front of the Olympic Stadium in London.

Dividing opinions ... the the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in front of the Olympic Stadium in London. Photo: Getty Images

It takes just two words in Canberra to divide the community: public art.

Like waving a red painting at a raging bull, those two words are guaranteed to illicit a huff, a stomping of the feet, and a headfirst charge into a cultural crusade.

The Canberra Times has enjoyed many a hearty (and heated) debate on our letters and opinion pages, fed last year by Jon Stanhope's proclamation that only "philistines" and "rednecks" were opposed to public art spending.

A recent addition to the ACT public artscape, <i>Droplet</i> by Stuart Green is on the corner of Furzer and Worgan St, Phillip. Click for more photos

Canberra's public art

A recent addition to the ACT public artscape, Droplet by Stuart Green is on the corner of Furzer and Worgan St, Phillip. Photo: Rohan Thomson

  • A recent addition to the ACT public artscape, <i>Droplet</i> by Stuart Green is on the corner of Furzer and Worgan St, Phillip.
  • Recently installed on the corner of Edinburgh Ave and London Circuit is <i>Here and Now</i> by Anner Eggert. Definitely not there and then.
  • The Rhizome structure off Gungahlin Drive Extension. Apparently supposed to be native grasses. Intepret away.
  • It lights up with pretty colours at night, and is occasionally spruced up even more with the addition of bubbles (we don't condone this behaviour, naughty children!) ... The Canberra Times fountain in City Walk in Civic.
  • The giant owl sculpture on the corner of Belconnen Way and Benjamin Way has apparently been confused with a certain part of the male anatomy from different viewpoints. Make up your own mind on that one...
  • Sculpture On the Staircase by Danish artist Keld Moseholm in Petrie Plaza, Civic.
  • Sheep sculptures and monuments, Civic. They probably find themselves the centre of attention more often than they'd like. Particularly late at night.
  • Yellow Grass Public art outside the Belconnen Arts Centre. One reader wasn't entirely sure if it was a tribute to french fries (there is a McDonalds close by).
  • We're not sure if the RSPCA is investigating, but Civic's bronze puppies have been the target of random attacks in the past. Here you can see Amanda Stuart working on the <i>Bush Pack</i> at the ANU School of Art.
  • An academic gathering on City Walk ... <i>Poets' Corner</i> by Cathy Weiszmann.
  • Rising from the front of the Legislative Assembly in Civic Square is one of Canberra's original public artworks: <i>Ethos</i>, by Tom Bass.
  • A new-ish sculpture on the Tuggeranong Parkway has left a few people scratching their heads. Is it a moth? Is it a fish? A goldfishmoth? There is a clue in its name: </i>Moth Ascending the Capital</i> by Alex Knox.
  • Dividing opinions ... the the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in front of the Olympic Stadium in London.

From the proud Ethos standing in Civic Square, to the Belconnen owl that has been said, from some angles, to resemble a certain part of the male anatomy, territorians are usually no stranger to sharing their opinion on the taxpayer funded art that dots our city.

But, as the gaze of the world settles on London, what would Canberrans have to say about The Orbit?

First, the essentials:

British artist Anish Kapoor with a scale model of the Orbit.

British artist Anish Kapoor with a scale model of the Orbit. Photo: Reuters

The bright red, awkwardly-named ArcelorMittal Orbit looms about 115m high over London's Olympic Park.

Designed by artist Anish Kapoor and designer Cecil Balmond, the structure, or sculpture if you will, includes an observation deck that is due to open to the public on Friday.

The GBP 23 million (AUD 34.9 million) project has already attracted descriptions ranging from the "Godzilla of Public Art" to a "supersized mutant trombone" and a "rollercoaster caught up in a spaghetti junction".

So fair to say it has divided opinions around the world. But the big question is, how does it compare to Canberra's collection of public art?

If Canberra were to host the Olympics (ah, to dream!), which piece of our city's public art would attract the most controversy?