Bharti Kher to Create Seven-Meter Bronze Sculpture for Powerhouse Parramatta

Powerhouse Parramatta has engaged British Indian artist Bharti Kher to design a significant public artwork for its upcoming museum in Parramatta, Western Sydney, set to open later this year. The piece, named 'Tree of Life', is a seven-meter-tall bronze sculpture that features four heads stacked on a bronze base, integrating clay fragments from figurines sourced from Indian secondhand markets. This creation continues Kher's 'Intermediaries' series (2016–) and draws inspiration from Hindu mythology, reinterpreting the sacred tree as a symbol of divine safeguarding while honoring Parramatta’s Indian community, where more than one-third of the population has Indian roots. Born in London in 1969 and currently residing in New Delhi, Kher is celebrated for her exploration of spirituality and cultural hybridity through various artistic mediums. The sculpture will be positioned at the museum's entrance, representing what Kher calls 'an artistic message of commonality and an ode to nature.'