Shoppers watch mural take shape
Wellington artist Miz Muller’s mural is more than just a marker on a wall.
The art piece taking shape inside Lower Hutt’s Queensgate Shopping Centre is as much a performance as it is a drawing, she says.
By creating the mural in a public space over seven days, shoppers get to see the artwork progress. Muller, whose work is completely improvised, describes it as a ‘‘slow story’’.
Her movement as she works her way up and down a ladder and across the 5 metrelong, 4m-high mural is all part of the show. The audience also gets to see her interact, think about and at times, struggle, with her work.
Muller has worked on smaller pieces in art galleries but said drawing in a shopping centre was different because people experienced the mural in a different context.
‘‘You bring art to an audience that is not expecting to see art.’’
Rather than the audience turning up to see a picture hanging on a wall, the performance was an opportunity for curious shoppers to see art being created and talk to her about the process.
The mural, called A Place To Wonder ,is being drawn with a white marker on a black background. It features distorted cityscapes and includes well-known architecture from around Lower Hutt.
Muller’s latest artwork is located in Queensgate’s new ‘‘community library’’. This facility operates like ad hoc libraries elsewhere where people can take or donate book as they please.
Queensgate marketing manager Anna Colville-Smith said the idea was to give shoppers a ‘‘chill-out zone’’ where they could relax. They also wanted to encourage reading and the recycling of books – all the books at the library had been donated.
She said the artwork and Muller’s presence gave shoppers a different experience.
Queensgate had plans to keep the library for at least 12 to 18 months and could pack it up and move it as needed.
A Place To Wonder was being drawn on five boards that could be moved with the library.
Muller expects to complete her work on August.4.