Solar Boomerangs for Melbourne Symbolize our Collective Karma

Boomerangs are a symbol of karma, reminding us that whatever we do will come back to us. When you throw a boomerang, it spins and spins, and finally returns to your own hands.

This is similar to our treatment of nature. If we care for it, it is kind to us, but ignoring nature is disadvantageous—not only for us, but for generations to come. Renewable energy is an important part of restoring our karmic relationship to nature.

Referencing both St Kilda Triangle and the trajectory of a spinning boomerang, the sculpture is composed of a series of interconnected triangles that provide a frame for 120 boomerang-shaped panels. When viewed from a distance, the installation appears to be dynamic. The Path of Karma’s boomerangs are covered in thin-film solar cells. The energy they harvest is transmitted through the metal framing to a storage location placed underground, ensuring visitor safety.

Multi-colored LED lights on the boomerangs create a soft glow at night, a constant reminder to visitors of the energy that is generated on site. The self-supporting modular frame can be moved and re-connected in a variety of shapes. Its permeable structure also preserves views to the bay and surrounding sites.

The Path of Karma represents one more step in our collective search to produce clean and renewable energy in a way that is sustainable, feasible, and beautiful—so that we might preserve nature for our descendants.