The word Eternity in copperplate script seems to have a longevity of its own.

Sydneysiders have been intrigued by it since the 1940s, when the word was first chalked on pavements and walls by a reformed alcoholic. Inspired by a sermon about “shouting Eternity through the streets of Sydney,” Arthur Stace took a piece of chalk from his pocket and “shouted” that way for the next 35 years.

In the 1960s, a young boy, now the acclaimed artist Martin Sharp, spotted it on a pavement. Unaware then of its meaning, he was taken by the fact that someone had written on the pavement, and the image stuck in his mind. Over the years, it became one of Sharp’s recurring themes in his paintings.

Recently, a group of artists – working with different media – were invited to present their interpretations of the concept of “eternity” as well as the word in copperplate script. These works, with a special tribute to the art of Martin Sharp, are on display at an art exhibition now on in Sydney.

Eternity, by Martin Sharp and Tim Lewis

Sharp, now in his seventies, was at the recent launch. Speaking with Eternity (the newspaper, which also has the copperplate script as its masthead), he said that Stace’s legacy is a part of Sydney that should be kept alive. “That’s why I brought it into contemporary artwork.”  As for the concept of eternity, Sharp said, “The more I used the word, the more I thought about why it meant so much to Stace.”

Photographer Jon Lewis, who is also featured, says that an inquiring mind has to  ask about the existence of God. “My brother says that we already know the tooth fairy and Santa don’t exist; the last thing we have is God!”

Jon Lewis says eternity questions everything

One of Lewis’ works was an arresting photo of swirling foam on rapidly-flowing water. He explained it as representing “the infiniteness of the heavens on earth” but only after asking – as an artist would – “What does it mean to you?”

Naturally, this looking and interpreting was precisely what each visitor was doing, as they stopped before each exhibit. Arthur Stace could not have hoped for a better response: his copperplate “Eternity” is still making people stop and think.

“Eternity”  is on at the Damien Minton Gallery in Redfern till 23 February.

Top image: Diamonds Are Forever: Eternity, by Liane Rossler