Perceptions – Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is the focal point of the bustling Sydney Harbor.  It sits big and proud out on the promontory point, like a peacock poising in a knowingly prideful stance, aware that everyone is looking at its beauty.

It’s hard to not be mesmerized by the ‘structure’ (building doesn’t seem fair, and ‘Opera House’ seems limiting… maybe ‘work of art’ is a better moniker).  The way it lies in quiet wait in the night, all lights dimmed, but you know the massive structure is out there, gives a magical presence to a middle of the night jet-lagged stroll. Or the first rays of sunlight that make it look lit from within, fill the start of a morning with the feeling of amazement and opportunity for the day to come.  During the day, it looks like:  fill-in-the-blank (see the video on perception and interpretations from our family)… well, whatever the word you choose it looks mesmerizing and magical.

Then night time arrives and it’s again the centerpiece of a remarkable view.

In the spirit of exploring our thoughts, I asked everyone in the family what they thought of the Sydney Opera House.  You’ll see, it ranges from ‘waves’ to ‘fins’ to a ‘dinosaur’ to a ‘conquistador’s helmet’ to ‘knight armor’ to ‘shells.’

I think it’s an interesting opportunity to reflect on human perception, and how we all can perceive one object in so many different ways and through so many different lenses… and somehow, they are all right; or better yet, there is no single right answer when interpreting the world around us – only appreciation for different perspectives while valuing the beauty that we all see.

Now, which religious belief system is the right one?  Uh-oh… more to come on the Stroh world-school adventure.

PS: It turns out we are all wrong; apparently, it’s Danish architect named Jorn Utzon (whose paper sketch was picked out of 250 entries, plucking him from obscurity in the process) wanted it to look like geometrically undefined sails.