Owl (Armstrong)
One of Australia's 150 big things
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Owl, informally known as the Belconnen Owl or the Penis Owl,[1] is a sculpture 8 m (26 ft) tall,[2] designed by the Australian sculptor Bruce Armstrong, located in the Belconnen district of Canberra, Australia; it depicts a powerful owl (Ninox strenua).[3]
Erected in 2011 and made of concrete,[4] it is celebrated as one of numerous "big things" in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).[5][6]
Reception
The owl's form has been lampooned for having a phallic shape, especially when viewed from behind.[4] It has become a tourist attraction; the Australian politician Tara Cheyne called it a "must see".[1][7] The work has been nicknamed the "penis owl",[8] "the Great Penis Owl of Belconnen",[1][9][10] and "the Great Penis Owl of Canberra".[11][12]
The statue has attracted graffiti; the ACT government spent A$3000 on cleaning it in the year prior to July 2017, and said they planned to install CCTV cameras to discourage and capture future vandalism.[2]
