Toilet humour delivers message
A sizeable crowd watched as a sculpture of Environment Minister Nick Smith was carried through central Christchurch and placed with his backside facing the regional council.
Sam Mahon, an artist and activist, yesterday unveiled his latest work in front of Environment Canterbury’s headquarters: a gigantic, life-like sculpture depicting Smith with his pants down, squatting over a drinking glass.
The work is 2.2 times’ life size and took seven people to carry across the road on a busy Monday morning.
The work is a political statement, criticising Smith, the Government, and Ecan’s role in Canterbury’s freshwater quality.
No anatomical detail was overlooked: members of the public jumped at the chance to pose for photos with the minister’s backside.
The sculpture caused a mild furore last week, when Mahon revealed he planned to place it on the reserve in front of Ecan’s main office.
In an email to staff on Friday, Ecan chief executive Bill Bayfield said the work was offensive and would not be welcomed.
‘‘We always try to welcome visitors and engage in a constructive discussion with them,’’ he wrote. ‘‘However, the statue that Sam has proposed to bring to us on Monday is inappropriate and offensive and we cannot welcome it.’’
An Ecan staff member had asked Mahon not to deliver it, a request Mahon refused.
A court injunction on Friday meant the sculpture could not be placed on the reserve, so Mahon placed it on an adjacent public footpath instead, where it attracted a large crowd, including multiple police officers.
‘‘I think [Smith] has become my muse,’’ Mahon said.
Mahon last depicted Smith in 2009, with a sculpture of his head made out of cow faeces.
At the time Mahon met Smith, who told him there was nothing Mahon could do to offend him.
‘‘I took that as a challenge,’’ Mahon said.
Mahon has been a long-time critic of water management in Canterbury, particularly the role played by Smith and the Government.
Smith was Environment Minister in 2009 when the elected Ecan council was sacked and replaced with appointed commissioners.
Mahon bemoaned the fact his daughter could no longer swim in the region’s rivers, which he said were in a woeful state.
‘‘Ecan was Nick Smith’s gift to the dairy industry about seven years ago,’’ he said.
‘‘We thought it was a fitting place to unveil the sculpture … it gets attention, it gets the message across, and people hopefully have a laugh at the same time.’’
Mahon planned to drive the sculpture to Nelson, Smith’s constituency, and do ‘‘a few laps’’ of the market where Smith sets up a caravan each week.
It would likely end up back in Canterbury at a permanent spot.
Smith said on Friday he had yet to see the sculpture, but said it was ‘‘pretty crude art’’.
‘‘In the business of politics a few people choose to have a go at you with that tone,’’ he said.
‘‘I choose to put huge energy, effort and passion into improving New Zealand’s freshwater management and I’m proud of my record.’’
Smith has alleged that on Saturday, two people accosted him, rubbed rat poison in his face and threatened his family at the Nelson market.
He reported the incident to police.