Updated April 21, 2017 05:08:45

Photo: Some in Alice Springs were confused the yellow rabbit was revealed as a piece of public art. (ABC News: Nick Hose)

A large yellow sculpture of a rabbit, installed at the entrance to the new Alice Springs Supreme Court building, has raised questions about good taste and left many locals angry.

Residents woke up in the days before Good Friday to see the giant steel bunny mounted onto a concrete pylon near the town's largest construction project for many years.

The monument to a species considered a pest in Central Australia left has locals confused as to whether it is a homage to Easter or even a practical joke.

'I wanted to create a talking point'

Michael Sitzler, who owns the company that built the court, was granted control over the public space in front of it by the Alice Springs Town Council.

He said the sculpture was a parting gift to the town, as his company Sitzler Brothers shut its doors this week, laying off 30 staff after more than 55 years in business.

"I had an opportunity with the development to create some public art, which I believe Alice Springs needs more of," he said.

"The purpose of putting a concrete pedestal there with a public art piece on it is to create a talking point about the art and about the precinct. I think it's done that.

Mr Sitzler said the one-and-a-half-metre rabbit could be replaced by a series of rolling temporary art works made by local artists.

But at the Supreme Court building's grand opening, due in the next few weeks, the rabbit will be there.

Alice artists in uproar

Many local artists and critics were already unhappy with the Supreme Court building's imposing addition to the skyline, with some calling the glass edifice "a glorified camp oven".

Author Kieran Finnane said public opinion should have been sought when the former Country Liberal government was seeking tenders on the project — not just before the building opened.

"It's not the time to stimulate a conversation about public art or the precinct. That should've been done a long time ago," she said.

"The piece of art is an insult to the injury of the Supreme Court building."

Long-term Alice Springs artist Pip McManus called on the Government to legislate to ensure every major public building had public art incorporated into its design.

"The Supreme Court building is a glaring example of the lack of legislation, which would mean every major infrastructure project must have a percentage for art, and that's the only way things are going to change," she said.

"Alice Springs launched the Desert Art Movement and we have an off-the-shelf laser-cut yellow bunny."

"I think this public artwork makes bunnies of us all."

Council 'opted to not become formally involved'

The ABC understands the yellow bunny and plinth is situated on public land.

But the chief executive officer of the Alice Springs Town Council Rex Mooney issued a statement leaving the matter in the hands of developers.

"The plinth in front of the Supreme Court was approved in the original application for the Supreme Court development," he said.

"Alice Springs Town Council opted to not become formally involved in the management of the public art sitting on the plinth.

"However it is our understanding that Michael Sitzler plans to brief Council's Public Art Advisory Committee regarding future artworks on the plinth."

Artist recently died

The ABC contacted Melbourne sculptor Peter McLisky, who created the artwork, but was told by his estate he had recently died.

McLisky was a well-known New Zealand-born artist and sculptor, who gained international fame for his work in advertising.

His work has featured in the National Gallery of Victoria.

Topics: sculpture, visual-art, street-art, arts-and-entertainment, alice-springs-0870

First posted April 20, 2017 21:23:42