‘cliff’
by janet laurence
School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University
2022
Artist: Janet Laurence
Curator: Helen Curtis, Apparatus
Geologist: Pete Kinny
Client: Curtin University
Fabrication: Kanyana Engineering
Installation: SafePassage
Photography:
View full project album on Dropbox
Project Video:
Curator’s Page:
Our Role:
-
Concept Design
-
Visualisations
-
Industrial Design
-
Structural Engineering
-
Shop Drawings
-
Project Management
-
Site Management
-
Installation Management
-
Safety Documentation
-
Graphic Design
From Vision to Reality: Engineering Cliff
Essay by Jim Free – Draftsperson, Event Engineering
The acclaimed artist Janet Laurence first reached out to Event Engineering during a residency in Taiwan in early 2020. She had been shortlisted for a public art commission for Curtin University’s new School of Design and the Built Environment and needed support to bring her concept to life—quickly.
With an initial vision of a suspended ‘cliff’ of geological forms, our team collaborated remotely to develop concept imagery, industrial design documents, budgets, and schedules. The artist’s montages became a springboard for visualisations that supported her successful proposal.
What followed was a deeply collaborative and technically challenging journey, integrating geology, art, structural engineering, and cultural respect.
The Geological Story
Geologist and Emeritus Professor Pete Kinny joined the project early, tasked with sourcing approximately 150 rocks of geological significance from across Western Australia. These ranged in type and age—one included a 4.4-billion-year-old quartzite from Jack Hills, containing Earth’s oldest dated zircon crystals.
Engineering challenges soon emerged: some specimens, like Coquina from Shark Bay, were too fragile to be drilled. This led to a breakthrough idea—treating the rocks like jewellery, each held by a custom stainless steel “four-claw” setting.
Solving the Installation Puzzle
Installing 150 rocks on a 20-metre-high internal concrete wall with no working platform demanded an unorthodox solution. Traditional scaffolding was impractical. Our team, led by Jim Free, Reinaldo, and expert rigger Gavin Dyson Mayne, devised an innovative rope access system using the wall’s existing architectural formwork holes.
This not only preserved the visual integrity of the space but allowed for a safe and elegant installation method.
Respecting Country
Janet and the curatorial team engaged Noongar elder Barry McGuire to perform a smoking ceremony for the rocks. This ceremony acknowledged the cultural significance of the geological forms and provided a spiritual foundation for the work.
The Final Ascent
After delays due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the team returned to Curtin University in June 2022. Over five days, the rocks were installed via rope access—turning the act of installation into a performance itself. Janet Laurence, suspended above the atrium, placed the final rock by hand.
Barry McGuire returned once more for a closing ceremony, ensuring the work had been settled into its new home with cultural and spiritual care.
Experience Cliff
Cliff is now permanently installed in the atrium of the School of Design and the Built Environment at Curtin University. Visitors can view the artwork in person, accompanied by interpretive signage detailing its artistic, scientific, and cultural significance.
Other NEWS
SYDNEYS SUPER TUNNELS
Watch the EE Team navigate the transportation and installation of the monumental public artworks by Mikala Dwyer in Sydney Metro Martin Place on the final episode of this SBS Series.
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Girls Night Out captures the playful, exuberant experience of a night out with friends. The sculpture is a contemporary timber assemblage with two figures poised in an acrobatic feat of engineering, interacting with the columns and floating platform, and appearing to be suspended in movement.
GREAT EMU IN THE SKY
Great Emu in the Sky is one of Australia’s largest public art sculptures, created with Balarinji to welcome travellers to Western Sydney Airport. Event Engineering led 3D modelling, design, and fabrication inspections, honouring Dharug culture through powerful infrastructure art.
THE LAND AROUND US
‘The Land Around Us’ by David Cianci stands tall in Townhead Park, Singleton—a 5.7-metre-high sculpture that celebrates the spirit of place and community. Inspired by the local landscape, this striking work is both a visual landmark and a tribute to the region’s natural heritage. Event Engineering provided engineering and certification services to bring the artist’s vision safely to life.
YIMALIKO MAKORO
‘Yimaliko Makoro’ by Raymond & Tyler Smith honours the cultural and ecological heritage of Cottage Creek with soaring cast aluminium fish sculptures. Engineered in collaboration with HCCDC.
EUCALYPT CANOPIES
‘Eucalypt Canopy’ by Balarinji transforms the M12 Motorway shared path into a journey through Country. Featuring oversized eucalyptus leaf structures, the installation blends cultural storytelling with striking design. Event Engineering provided engineering and certification for these sculptural waypoints, supporting a vision that honours Western Sydney’s six seasons and Aboriginal connection to land.
THE CUSHION HOUSE
The Cushion House brought HOKA’s Bondi 9 to life with a bold architectural takeover of North Bondi Surf Club. Wrapped in a sculptural form inspired by the shoe’s signature sole, the temporary installation was part brand experience, part public art. Event Engineering supported MNR Constructions with engineering and certification to ensure the structure was safe, durable, and as impactful as the concept demanded.
SEEDS OF FLIGHT
Seeds of Flight by Tomás Saraceno transforms Parkline Plaza in Sydney’s CBD into a mesmerizing interplay of light and form. Launched on March 6, 2025, this installation showcases Saraceno’s innovative approach to art and science. Event Engineering provided comprehensive services, including structural engineering, rigging, rope access, and custom hardware solutions. Our collaboration with stakeholders and Studio Tomás Saraceno ensured a seamless installation, featuring a custom pulley system for precise adjustments.