Encased in a chariot, the figure is a paradox of ­contemporary life and Arthur Wicks’ homage to his background in both science and art.

“I wanted to capture the notion of being an explorer in your own territory but as if you were a martian ­discovering things afresh,” Wicks said. “I really don’t care how people react to the works but I hope they look at the pieces and form their own narrative, ­generate their own story.”

Titled ‘Earth exploration Rover Mission’, Wicks’ exhibition features an amazing collection of helicopter, chariots, and life size puppets.

“When Arthur Wicks was actually creating these works (during the past few decades) it was very new to be using kinetic energy to make things move so it’s hard to say whether you would read his work as a ­scientific experiment or as an artwork,” gallery deputy director Brigette Uren said.

Wicks’ prolific output has encompassed painting, printmaking, performance and sculpture.

“The gallery has a rich history in showing the work of leading Australian artists and Arthur Wicks is a huge figure in Australian sculpture so it’s very fitting he should he here,” Ms Uren said.

Artist and NSW Government architect Peter Poulet will officially open the gallery’s Mid Season Winter program – featuring five exciting new exhibitions – on Saturday afternoon from 3pm.

Other exhibitions this winter include ‘A view of their world: The Utopia Suite’ from the gallery ­collection, ‘A Trio of trespassers’ by Annemarie Murland, Andy Devine and Keira O’Toole, ‘Displaced: Greta Camp 1949-1960’ and ‘Reflections of life and landscape’ by Judy Henry.

Wicks will also host an artist talk prior to Saturday’s launch.