Wheatbelt sculptor’s biggest project finds a home at South Perth foreshore

Narembeen sculptor Jordan Sprigg has completed his biggest project to date with a nearly 800kg Northern White Rhino made of thrifted farm tools and scrap metal now permanently stationed in front of one of Perth’s ritziest restaurants. Rambla on Swan owner Hugh Brown commissioned the piece, which was unveiled on the South Perth foreshore today in front of the restaurant. The white rhino weighs more than 700 kilograms and took 550 hours to create on Sprigg’s Narembeen family farm. The piece was commissioned to commemorate the last male Great Northern White Rhino that died two years ago, and bring to light conservationists’ research into using scientific methods to keep the species alive. Sprigg said he hoped the sculpture would raise awareness about the story behind the efforts to save the Great Northern White Rhino — of which there are just two remaining females. His biggest project to date, the piece also includes two stainless steel horns created by Black Star Fabrication in Perth. The Narembeen local has shot to fame in recent years for his striking animal sculptures using recycled metals found from retired machinery, scrap heaps and clearance sales for all of his pieces. Some of the pieces date more than 100 years old and were used by the earliest settlers of WA. The rhino includes spades, shovels, plough discs, spanners, gears, chains, pliers, scissors, and much more. The objects he has created in the past range from dragonflies, owls and seahorses, to larger scale sharks, eagles and even horses. The scrap iron sculptures are intentionally left in their rusted state to highlight the age of the metal and the history of each piece. From springs, gears, bearings and nuts and bolts, to shovels, pliers and saws, the list is endless as to what the artist makes use of in his work. Several of Sprigg’s sculptures are on display in regional WA towns, including a wedge-tailed eagle purchased by the Shire of Williams. Mr Brown said he first heard of Sprigg’s work nearly 10 years ago, and had always wanted to purchase one of his pieces. A farmer’s son himself, originally from a farm at Yelbeni, Mr Brown said he still had family farming in regional WA. “We are delighted to have this... when he told us the back story of the species, we just thought it was incredible,” he said. “Jordan and I are both country boys. There is a lot of history in the piece, which resonates with me as well.” Coincidentally, one of the plough discs was created by the brand Rhino Ag. “He welded it in there, and only realised later,” Mr Brown said. Mr Brown said he hoped the piece would kick off an art trail from the South Perth foreshore to the Perth Zoo. “We would love to see sculptures all the way to the Perth Zoo... the City of South Perth started it with the frilled neck lizard and we would love to see it continue,” he said.