Cloud Play, a white aerial Skynet sculpture by Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, suspended above the HOTA Outdoor Stage lawn in Gold Coast, Australia, with the vibrant HOTA Gallery building and sunset in the background.
Underneath view of Cloud Play illuminated in pink, purple, and orange hues as dusk falls over HOTA Gold Coast, with guests walking beneath the flowing Skynet sculpture.

A Kinetic Skynet Installation

CLOUD PLAY

Cloud Play at HOTA Gold Coast

by Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics
Presented by HOTA | Home of the Arts

Experience the magic of Cloud Play at HOTA Gold Coast—a breathtaking kinetic sculpture that hovers high above the Outdoor Stage at Home of the Arts. Created by world-renowned artist Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, this monumental Skynet installation transforms natural wind into a stunning aerial ballet that’s visible from afar and unforgettable up close.

As part of WONDER HOTA 2025, Cloud Play is the centerpiece of this year’s free, city-wide celebration of public art, light, and imagination.

Exhibition Details

📍 HOTA Outdoor Stage, Gold Coast
📅 May 31 – July 13, 2025
⏰ Free to the public | 9am – 9pm daily

“With Cloud Play, I am revealing natural wind patterns unique to this location. It is here, amidst the Gold Coast’s fusion of land and sea, that the piece finds its rhythm—visualizing the dance of nature’s unseen breath.”, artist Patrick Shearn.

Art in Motion, For Everyone

This elegant white Skynet sculpture flows effortlessly with the wind, creating a serene, ever-changing experience that reflects the Gold Coast’s natural beauty. As daylight plays across its surface, and as dusk brings illumination, Cloud Play becomes a beacon of tranquility and wonder.

Set against the bold, geometric façade of the HOTA Gallery, it offers a compelling contrast—fluid motion against striking, colorful structure. The space beneath invites quiet contemplation, yoga, picnics, or simply the joy of being outdoors in the presence of something extraordinary.

This is public art at its most accessible: free to explore, free to enjoy, and open to all.

A Living Canvas of Community Stories

At the heart of Cloud Play is the voice of the community. Through the Sky Ribbons campaign, thousands of Gold Coast residents contributed messages of gratitude and answered the question:
“What makes the Gold Coast special to you?”

These handwritten notes now flutter within the sculpture, each ribbon carrying a memory, a hope, or a moment of meaning. The result is more than a kinetic installation—it’s a living, breathing portrait of Gold Coast’s collective spirit and pride.

Spotlight of WONDER HOTA 2025

As the largest and most ambitious installation ever presented at the precinct, Cloud Play HOTA Gold Coast leads the 2025 WONDER program—a free, family-friendly celebration of creativity and connection. This year’s lineup includes:

  • Sounds Like Gold Coast – Live music by local artists

  • Lann Levinge: Gawrehma Jungan – The Story of Clouds – An immersive First Nations audio experience exploring weather, renewal, and cultural connection

  • Strictly Luhrman – A cinematic orchestral tribute to Baz Luhrmann’s iconic films

  • Solstice Brasil: Seu Jorge – An electrifying outdoor concert finale under the stars

CLOUD PLAY HOTA GOLD COAST 

CLOUD PLAY HOTA GOLD COAST 

CLOUD PLAY HOTA GOLD COAST 

CLOUD PLAY HOTA GOLD COAST 

CLOUD PLAY HOTA GOLD COAST 

 

Cloud Play

at HOTA Gold Coast

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
1