Sculptures transform Wynyard Quarter
As Wynyard Quarter prepares to transform into a temporary public sculpture park, Auckland sculptors are taking the chance to blow off the dust from their best existing work.
Hillsborough artist Marte Szirmay will show her sculpture Jolt in Silo Park for the Summer of Sculpture installation coming to the waterfront space from February 1.
The sculpture is part of a series of four pieces which were inspired by the Christchurch earthquakes.
The free six-week exhibition will feature the most prestigious and recognisable works of more than 20 critically-acclaimed Auckland sculptors.
It is the brainchild of the Outdoor Sculpture Incorporated Society 2001 and is being driven by the artists themselves.
‘‘New isn’t always best. Some lovely works are waiting in studios for a buyer that you see once and never again,’’ Ms Szirmay says.
‘‘Unless you create new works for exhibitions like Headland on Waiheke there’s no public acknowledgment that sculpture exists and is very healthy.’’
Ms Szirmay has been sculpting for more than 40 years. There still needs to be more acknowledgment of the role art can play in public spaces, she says.
‘‘I think the public really likes these kinds of surprises when they go on a stroll through the city. For the most part people know exactly what they’re going to find around the corner because there’s no flexibility.’’
Fellow sculptor Jim Wheeler would like to see the waterfront space welcome more temporary art exhibitions.
‘‘We want Wynyard Quarter to remain a public space. Anyone that looks at the city is jealous of Wellington because they really use their harbour,’’ Mr Wheeler says.
The Onehunga artist says Auckland’s waterfront is calling out for more installations.
Mr Wheeler’s work Exotic Native – Immigrant’s Portrait has been plucked from a garden tree to be installed on a lamppost.
The installation is a good example of how art can be incorporated within urban landscapes, he says.
The outdoor installations will be in place in Wynyard Quarter from February 1 to March 14.
Artists will host sculpture walks each Sunday over the six weeks from February 10 meeting at Silo 6 at 3pm.
For three-weeks sculptures will also be displayed inside Silo 6 which will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm each day.