City of Perth council accepts US artist Brendan Murphy’s gift of $1.5m astronaut Boonji Spaceman sculpture

Basil Zempilas expects his council’s latest acquisition — a 7m-tall astronaut statue — to become a huge tourist attraction and talking point. The Perth Lord Mayor was speaking at Tuesday night’s council meeting ahead of a unanimous decision to accept US artist Brendan Murphy’s gifting of his latest Boonji Spaceman to Perth and for the council to pay up to $250,000 to bring and install it here. Murphy, whose works have been collected by tennis stars Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, as well as Warren Buffet and Ryan Gosling, was inspired by Perth’s City of Light moniker to donate the piece, which is valued at $1.5 million. Perth will become just the fifth location to host one of Murphy’s drawcard spaceman sculptures — with London, Antigua, Oslo and Dubai also having their own versions. Mr Zempilas said the spaceman would fit well with “our origin story” and American astronaut John Glenn’s role in it: labelling Perth the City of Light in 1962 when residents turned on their lights to his mission of orbiting earth. “I love what it stands for; it’s bold; these are hugely Instagramable,” he said. “It could eventually end up at Elizabeth Quay when Elizabeth Quay goes back into the possession of the City of Perth. “And I know people will love coming to have their photo taken, which is a huge talking point, and indeed, I think it will be a huge tourist attraction for our city.” Cr Raj Doshi said she had messages from people to say it was fantastic that something like the astronaut was coming to the city. Cr Liam Gobbert also spoke in favour of accepting Murphy’s gift. “I think it was Chris Lilley’s character Mr G in Summer Heights High who said ‘You’ve got yourself an entertainment industry professional for the price of a teacher’,” Cr Gobbert said. “And I feel like here we’re getting a sculpture from an internationally renowned artist for the price of postage and handling.” “Oh, that’s brilliant,” Mr Zempilas responded. “No, Australia Post don’t make envelopes that big, so no surprises on the size of the postage stamp – up to $250,000,” Cr Gobbert said. “But in all seriousness, when we are judged through cultural factors … we are judged on the prevalence of art work throughout the city and how our citizens are able to access different facilities like the ballet or opera or art galleries. “This is just one of those extra little ways that people can enjoy public art through the city.” Mr Zempilas said acquiring the sculpture was a rare opportunity that had come the city’s way. He acknowledged the work of Paul Gullotti of Gullotti Galleries in attracting Murphy’s work to Perth. Mr Gullotti had approached Murphy to invite him to Perth for an exhibition. And the artist, never having been to Australia, asked about Perth. He offered one of his spaceman sculptures when he learnt about its City of Light moniker and Glenn’s role in that story.