Flugelman, Bert

Bert Flugelman, born in Vienna in 1923, emigrated to Australia with his Jewish parents in 1938. He became famous in the 1970s with his large-scale sculptures, mostly made of polished stainless steel, which change depending on perspective and movement. Viewers see themselves reflected in the highly reflective surfaces; distorted, fragmented, or even multiplied.

Flugelman’s works repeatedly sparked controversial discussions. The “Pyramid Tower” sculpture on Sydney’s central Martin Place divided the city into two camps; his opponents mockingly referred to the artwork as “The Silver Shish Kebab” and ultimately even had it removed. It was only years later that the silver tower was re-erected in a less prominent location. Today, the artist’s works, which appear modern, technical, timeless, and sometimes almost futuristic, can be found in all of Australia’s major cities.