Made from fibreglass and aluminium, this Unicorn Trigger Fish was one of several large props to feature in 'Deep Sea Dreaming' - a theatrical segment in the Opening Ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games. Hoisted on lines high above the stadium, the sea creatures transformed the airspace into a large, fantastical world beneath the ocean. Prop designer, Dan Potra, developed these props and led series of tests to determine the best methods for their operation, particularly during strong winds. Weight restrictions of 150 kilograms per line eliminated any chance of animating the structures through the aid of a performer or an internal mechanism. However, wind currents above the stadium were essential in filling the props with air, creating the impression that the fish were swimming through the ocean.

In mid 2000, prop makers and scenic painters constructed the Unicorn Trigger Fish at the Ceremonies Workshop at Eveleigh. Here, they made the body from aluminium tubing, stretching fabric across its frame. Cast in fibreglass, the head concealed an internal lighting system that resembled the luminescent appendages of deep-sea fish.

Described by the NSW premier Bob Carr as 'the greatest spectacle Australia has produced', the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games took place at Stadium Australia, Homebush Bay on Friday 15 September 2000. Though the ceremony featured anthems, speeches, oaths, flags, pop singers and a marching band, its daring conceptual sequences ('Deep Sea Dreaming', 'Awakening', 'Nature', 'Tin Symphony', 'Arrivals' and 'Eternity') will be remembered as the major imaginative works. Each segment commenced without interruption, following on from the last to form an overall narrative. The purpose was to project a national image to a worldwide audience, to form the world's vision of Australian culture. This image embraced tolerance, social progress, multiculturalism and reconciliation, as well as nature, history and creativity. Designed to stimulate emotional responses from the audience, these segments delivered a refreshing mixture of youth, naivety and larrikinism.

After the horses from the 'Welcome' segment left the arena, the first narrative sequence, 'Deep Sea Dreaming', began. The 'hero girl', played by the 13-year-old Nikki Webster, skipped onto the arena in a pink sundress. She applied sun cream to her nose, stretched, lay on her beach towel and dreamt of the ocean. Her dreams afforded the director of this segment, Meryl Tankard, the opportunity to transform the stadium into a deep ocean. Eleven cables were used, strung 45 m above the arena across the 111 m space between the grandstands on either side. The hero girl soared high above the arena in a special lift harness, swimming and somersaulting through the ocean, among giant sea creatures. Translucent jellyfish drifted past her, and then various banner fish, sea-dragons, an eel, a mantaray, a ground-based worm, a nudibranch, a Spanish dancer, squid, lion fish, even a fearsome barracuda. Of the 800 people involved in this segment, 150 were schoolchildren taking the part of a giant school of fish. This object was worn by one of these children. The hero girl was sucked slowly downwards among a swirling mass of fish until white-ochre spirits took charge of her and carried her to the stage where the tribal dancer Djakapurra Munyarryun, the Songman, guided her through the following segments of the ceremony.

Operating from the Ceremonies Workshop, Fleur Burrows, Jenna Hann, Sara Laborde and Catherine Olsten constructed the 'flying fish' while Nic Burton and Joanna Pinkiewcz applied the painted designs. The fish heads were cast in polystyrene and coated in fibreglass, with the casts being removed after the fibreglass had dried. The head of the 'Unicorn trigger fish' was unique in design, featuring an internal lighting system that resembled the luminescent appendages of deep-sea fish.

Bent aluminium tubing formed the main body structure whilst Delron plastic made all the primary connections and strengthed the overall design. Fibreglass rods created the cross sections and fixed the upper and lower fins to the body (these were sewn into the covering material and pinned into Delron joints). Side fins, which were attached to a hinged joint, were positioned below and behind the fibreglass head. The tail was hinged for incidental movement while a small fishtail was positioned protrusively within the fish mouth.

Covering the structure, yellow and blue fabric complemented the sheer, luminous material that embellished the fins. The surfaces were adorned with glitter, sequins, paint and other applications.

This prop was hoisted above the arena during 'Deep Sea Dreaming' - a segment in the Opening Ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games. The ceremony was held at Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, on 15 September 2000.

Made for and owned by the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum after the Games.

Unicorn trigger fish, theatrical prop, painted fibreglass/aluminium/ fabric/internal lighting, used in 'Deep Sea Dreaming', Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000, designed by Dan Potra, made by Fleur Burrows, Jenna Hann, Sara Laborde and Catherine Olsten, painted by Nic Burton and Joanna Pinkiewcz, Ceremonies Workshop, Eveleigh, Sydney, 2000

Fish, 'Unicorn trigger fish' with trolley. The fish head is made from a painted fibreglass shell with internal lighting. The body of the fish consists of an aluminium body frame that is covered in yellow and blue fabric. The tail and side fins and dorsal fin are made from sheer synthetic luminous aquamarine fabric. A steel trolley cradles the fish body.

Made: 2000

2001/84/63

2000