Modern sculpture pieces, in particular, will be met with the usual put-downs that they look like something a child would create or that the sculptor must have been on something stronger than town water when inspiration struck.

Just as predictable, though, is the gradual acceptance that comes once the installation is in place.

Sydney City Council is still very much in stage one of this process following the unveiling on Tuesday of artist’s impressions of three new installations to be erected across the city, at a cost of around $8 million.

A 50-75 metre high “cloud” earmarked to rise high above Town Hall Station has created the most discussion – and plenty of sneering online commentary.

Don’t be surprised if this all sounds too familiar.

Bathurst Regional Council’s purchase of Philip Spelman’s Redjar Redbottle to stand outside the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery created exactly the same response – just on a much smaller scale.

But the story has changed a little since the sculpture was lowered onto its plinth in May.

Already it is becoming a much-loved feature of Keppel Street and is quickly developing into a local landmark. It may be odd, but it’s ours.

And that’s how it may be one day with Sydney’s 50-metre cloud.

Lord mayor Clover Moore raised a few eyebrows when she suggested the cloud would one day rank alongside the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as Sydney drawcards but who’s to say she is wrong? After all, the Opera House also divided opinion before it was built.

All art is designed to get a reaction and public art elicits more reaction than most.

But first reactions are a poor indication of what the public will think in the long term.

In time, Sydney may learn to love the cloud – even if they don’t want to.