Arrive to Paradise

While I was down south at Margaret River during the summer months this sculpture was erected in Rokeby Road, Subiaco not far from where I live. The plaque on the ground next to it has a description of the work which is as follows:

Arrive to Paradise 2012 Ayad Alqaragholli

Arrive to Paradise symbolises the contribution migrants, past, present and future, make to creating a unique and vibrant place. The bronze sculpture reflects Ayad's first impressions of Subiaco. Five days after his migration from Iraq in 2005, Ayad came to Jacksons Drawing Supplies to buy modelling clay. He was stunned by how friendly the people were and thought he had arrived in paradise, green and pleasant with 'angel' like people, a place full of possibilities.
City of Subiaco Public Art Collection.

The sculpture is fittingly situated next to Jacksons Drawing Supplies (the yellow building). When I first read the plaque it made me feel proud and reminded me of Gaby's comments about the people of Perth when he first arrived from Cairo. We were walking along the footpath along Rokeby Road one day when someone walked out of a shop directly in front of him causing Gaby to stop to avoid bumping in to him. The gentleman looked Gaby in the eye, smiled and said sorry. Gaby was amazed that anyone should apologise to him in this way and mentioned how friendly and well mannered everyone is here. Of course it is not always the case, but generally I feel that Australians are fairly easy going, friendly and polite (and NO..I don't work for Tourism Australia).

The base of the sculpture is a very large armchair and, provided the day isn't too hot causing the it to be scorching, children and adults like to sit on it to have their photo taken.