Bidders wild about penguin art
A flurry of bidding opened the auction of over 50 giant penguin sculptures in Christchurch, with the first 10 artworks collectively selling for more than $100,000.
The Pop Up Penguins art trail enlivened Canterbury after they were installed in public places from Rangiora to Akaroa.
Thousands of people visited the sculptures, which were decorated by some of New Zealand’s most exciting artists.
The sculptures were sold at auction last night to raise money for Cholmondeley Children’s Centre.
A penguin designed by Christchurch artist McChesney-Kelly Adams sold for more than $20,000 early in the auction.
The sculpture, called Penguin Disguised asaTu¯ı¯ , was inspired by the return of tu¯ ı¯ to Banks Peninsula. Adams said she was ‘‘overwhelmed’’ by the price it reached.
‘‘That was absolutely incredible,’’ she said after the hammer closed the sale at $21,000.
‘‘I had a feeling it would do well, but not that well. I started crying and so did my mum. Penguins and tu¯ ı¯ are both quite mischievous and I wanted to bring that out. At this scale I could really show the colours and the feathers of the tu¯ ı¯.’’
A penguin designed by artist and 2019 mosque attack survivor Zulfirman Syah sold for $6500. The sculpture, called Resilience, was a tribute to the power of recovery.
‘‘However broken we might be – as individuals, a community, or a city – we can always piece ourselves together again,’’ Syah said.
He said it was ‘‘exciting’’ to watch the flurry of bidding that greeted his artwork. ‘‘I hope it helps the children. I feel glad that I have had a chance to contribute to the city.’’
Birds of a Feather by the Nest Arts Collective was inspired by native birds. It also attracted a high price, selling for $25,000.
Wild in Art event producer Claire Cowles, who helped organise Pop Up Penguins, urged bidders before the auction to beat the total raised by the Christchurch Stands Tall giraffe trail of 2014.
The giraffe sculptures, each decorated by a commissioned artist, sold for a total of $465,650 in 2014.
‘‘That is the challenge for tonight,’’ she told bidders. She also thanked the artists for decorating the penguins with such flair.
‘‘I want to honour all of them for their talent and their dedication for delivering these works of art to the city.’’
Cholmondeley Children’s Centre fundraising and marketing manager Tanya Cooke said the money raised at the auction would help families in need. She said 500 children come to Cholmondeley every year for regular respite and care.
‘‘What you raise tonight is absolutely critical to ensure that we can continue to provide the services we provide,’’ she said.
‘‘These families are facing critical issues like mental health, poverty, family violence, or a cancer diagnosis. Our families that we support are struggling more than ever and need your support more than ever before.’’
The auction went late into the night, and the final total was not available by The Press’ deadline.
The penguins were installed in libraries, supermarkets, museums and public places, with members of the public following the trail in December and January using an app.
People walked a collective distance of more than 23,000 kilometres following the trail – greater than the distance from New Zealand to the United Kingdom.
The app was downloaded 10,500 times, allowing users to vote for their favourite penguins.
The app favourite was Punk It Penguin, which was installed in Cathedral Junction in central Christchurch. The steampunk penguin was designed by Laura Hewetson, who used the skills she learnt while working at Weta Workshop on the film series The Hobbit.