Harry Seidler Tribute Exhibition

13 June 2006

The life and works of Australian architect and design icon Harry Seidler will be showcased at an exhibition presented by the City of Sydney and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

A tribute to the architect who died in March this year, the exhibition will be presented in Harry Seidler's distinct style. The multimedia exhibition will engage visitors in the vision and legacies of one of Australia's leading architects of the modern movement.

Held at Customs House, Circular Quay, from 29 June - 6 August, the exhibition will include films, wall panels, models and tributes from his admirers. It will reveal the many facets of Harry Seidler; mentor, father, artist, photographer, social commentator and activist.

The exhibition will highlight a range of seminal works such the Rose Seidler House, Blues Point Tower, and Australia Square. There will also be a tribute to international buildings including the Australian Embassy in Paris, the Hong Kong Club in Hong Kong, and Wohnpark Neue Donau in Vienna.

The model of Sydney in Customs House will be spotlit to highlight Harry Seidler's buildings.

Visitors will be able to thumb through replicas of Harry's scrapbooks from his long and illustrious 57-year career, provided by his wife Penelope.

Four short films have been created for the exhibition featuring his early life and walkthroughs of Sydney buildings including the MLC Centre and Horizon Apartments with artist Peter Murphy.

The Tribute exhibition is curated by architect Jacqueline Urford, Chair of the RAIA(NSW) Heritage Committee. Jacqueline's personal insight into Seidler's career stems from her early experience as his student which led to her working in his office for seven and a half years.

Note: Harry Seidler's last major Sydney work, the City of Sydney's Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, will be completed early next year.

What:             Harry Seidler: A Tribute

                        Admission Free

When:             Thursday 29 June - Sunday 6 August 2006

Where:            Customs House, Sydney

                        1 Alfred Street, Circular Quay

Times:              Weekdays -  8am - 7pm

                         Saturdays -  10am-4pm

                         Sundays -  12pm - 4pm

                        www.sydneycustomshouse.com.au

For an interview with the curator, images or a biography of Harry Seidler please contact Maya Catsanis (02) 9265 9553 or 0409 045 425.