Cartoon by Natasha Williams-Novak By Catherine Watson
SILENCE will reign in the Cowes town square tonight after brazen brass-loving thieves nicked Anton Hasell's sculpture Harmony Bells last weekend.
The acclaimed sculptor, who has works all over Victoria, including at Birrarung Marr, told the Post said he loved the bells and found the theft disturbing, especially given the theme of the work.
“I didn’t sleep very well thinking there are people in the world with such base desires. Maybe in our highly individualistic society what is collectively owned is not valued by some people.
SILENCE will reign in the Cowes town square tonight after brazen brass-loving thieves nicked Anton Hasell's sculpture Harmony Bells last weekend.
The acclaimed sculptor, who has works all over Victoria, including at Birrarung Marr, told the Post said he loved the bells and found the theft disturbing, especially given the theme of the work.
“I didn’t sleep very well thinking there are people in the world with such base desires. Maybe in our highly individualistic society what is collectively owned is not valued by some people.
The four bells of varying sizes produce waves of sound and have become a much-loved feature of the town since being installed in the square in November 2012. Every Friday night, a group of locals gathered and played them.
The biggest bell weighs more than 60kgs so the theft almost certainly involved at least two people.
Hasell said he could not imagine a motive for the theft and could only assume it was a drunken prank. The work would be recognised by an art dealer, he said.
And if the thieves think they can melt down the bells and sell them for scrap metal, they’re in for a nasty shock. The cost of melting them would be higher than their value as scrap.
Hassell is optimistic that the bells will turn up somewhere when the thieves realise they can’t do anything with them.
Cowes police are investigating the theft. In the meantime, if you hear the ringing of bells, go out and investigate!
The biggest bell weighs more than 60kgs so the theft almost certainly involved at least two people.
Hasell said he could not imagine a motive for the theft and could only assume it was a drunken prank. The work would be recognised by an art dealer, he said.
And if the thieves think they can melt down the bells and sell them for scrap metal, they’re in for a nasty shock. The cost of melting them would be higher than their value as scrap.
Hassell is optimistic that the bells will turn up somewhere when the thieves realise they can’t do anything with them.
Cowes police are investigating the theft. In the meantime, if you hear the ringing of bells, go out and investigate!
Anton Hasell's Harmony Bells