(18/10/2018) Mythical beast appears in Fremantle

Commuters in Fremantle will be confronted with a fierce fire-breathing monster when they emerge from Fremantle Station this afternoon.

A huge bronze sculpture titled ‘Chimera’ was installed in Pioneer Park this morning after being loaned to the City of Fremantle by WA sculpture lover Kerry Harmanis.

Standing two metres tall, three metres long and weighing more than a tonne, Chimera is a representation of a mythical beast with the head of a lion, body of a goat and the tail of a serpent.

The original version of the work, titled ‘The Shimmer’, was created out of cardboard and papier-mâché by Fremantle-based artist Susan Flavell in 2014, and was exhibited at the Kidogo Arthouse at Bathers Beach in 2015 as part of the Sculpture at Bathers exhibition.

Donor Kerry Harmanis said he loved the sculpture so much he commissioned a bronze cast of the work.

"The Shimmer, Susan Flavell's representation of the chimera - the mythical monster of the Lycean civilisation - instantly brought back memories of a Lycean tomb on the island in Greece where my father, Kastelorizo, was born,” Mr Harmanis said.

“Having such mojo and being by a Fremantle artist I couldn’t resist. 

“I love the idea that it will way out live me and provide pleasure to many for a long time”.

Artist Susan Flavell said she was thrilled to have her work displayed in such a prominent position in the heart of Fremantle.

“It’s really just fantastic that it’s out and people are seeing it. I think that’s the best part of it, that people get to see it and hopefully they will like it and pat it,” Ms Flavell said.

Mayor Brad Pettitt said Chimera would be an incredible addition to Fremantle’s public art collection.

“We are lucky to have some amazing public art in Fremantle, from murals and street art to sculptures,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“I’m sure people in Freo will instantly fall in love with Chimera, and we’re very grateful to Kerry Harmanis for his generous donation.”

In Greek mythology, the chimera was a fire-breathing female monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail, which ravaged the lands of the Lycean coast with her fiery breath until she was slain by the hero Bellerophon with the aid of the flying horse Pegasus.

The sculpture, installed in Pioneer Park near the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, has been loaned to the City of Fremantle’s Public Art Collection for the next five years.