Looming Large
Getting Erthe into Wellington’s Begonia House, Andrew Laking says, was like ‘‘the birthing of a child’’ – the 4.3 metre tall sculpture is hard to miss with its intertwining green, white and black body.
The sculpture, which people can write notes to about their future wishes, is part of Loemis (pronounced Lew-mis), a festival held in the lead-up to the winter solstice, at the time of the shortest day, June 21. This is also Wellington’s darkest time of the year and Laking, the organiser of Loemis, said he hoped the festival would encourage people to embrace the darkness.
The annual event, which started in 2016, had broad themes, focusing on the elements – this year earth and plants.
There were three parts to the festival with events focusing on creative arts, craft elements and food.
While some people would be guided into the darkness on a mysterious evening hike through Truby King Park, others would be feasting inside the Begonia House as live music played.
The final event, a procession, would be held on the winter solstice, Laking said. It would start at Waitangi Park and end at Freyberg Beach.
Wellington was an ideal place for the event, Laking said.
‘‘People are willing to try things and there are a lot of artists in Wellington. This solstice time is quite magical, mystical and fantastical. We really want to encourage people to embrace these darkest days.’’
Leda Farrow, co-creator of the sculpture Erthe, said ‘‘solstice is all about connecting with nature and connecting more deeply with the things we want to grow and things we want to get rid of’’.
Farrow started working on the sculpture last year, alongside Luke Scott and students from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School.
The effigy represented the element of earth. ‘‘She has got a bit of darkness in her, which also represents aspects of nature.
Many European countries burned items they wanted to get rid of as part of the solstice celebrations, Farrow said.