An artwork resembling a giant sperm is about to take centre stage in Cathedral Square.
The work, named Darwin, is one of 25 by 15 different national and international artists being exhibited around the city for six weeks in the SCAPE 2008 Christchurch Biennial of Art in Public Space.An artwork resembling a giant sperm is about to take centre stage in Cathedral Square.
The work, named Darwin, is one of 25 by 15 different national and international artists being exhibited around the city for six weeks in the SCAPE 2008 Christchurch Biennial of Art in Public Space.Darwin is a 25-metre long fibreglass sculpture and is large enough for people to move around inside - in fact it will serve as the SCAPE information centre during the exhibition.
Dutch artist Joep van Lieshout, from the group Atelier van Lieshout, says the work represents inner-city revitalization.
"The work implies power, status, expansion and reproduction. Darwin reflects social
Darwinism ideas and the need for survival in all aspects of our lives, whether it be biological or corporate," he says.
Deborah McCormick, Director of the Art & Industry Biennial Trust, says "The sculpture ties in well with the exhibition's theme Wandering Lines: Towards a New Culture of Space. Like the other works, it will challenge people's perceptions of the cultural and urban texture of a city.
"We've heard comments from visiting artists that the centre of our city needs some new life injected into it, so this work is one way to do that for the next few weeks.
"Just as a sperm can fertilise an egg, we hope the presence of this work will reinvigorate life into Cathedral Square."
The Dutch group AVL, founded by artist Joep van Lieshout in 1995, is a multidisciplinary art studio based in Rotterdam and encompassing installation, design, furniture and architecture. Its work varies from sculptures and furniture, bathrooms and mobile home units to large installations and complete architectural refurbishments. The artists' international credibility impressively includes exhibitions in Europe, Mexico, China, Japan, Lebanon and the USA. Recurring themes in the work of AVL are economic self-sufficiency, power, politics and sex.
SCAPE 2008 is the fifth biennial presented by the Art & Industry Biennial Trust. The exhibition is being overseen by two internationally recognised curators - Danae Mossman (NZ) and Fulya Erdemci (Turkey). It also marks the ten year anniversary of the Art & Industry Biennial Trust, which, alongside the exhibition, will give its seventh permanent artwork to Christchurch's collection of public artworks. The gift, named Flour Power, will stand 13 metres high on Stewart Plaza on the corner of Colombo and Hereford Streets.
Generously supported by: Anderson Lloyd Lawyers, Beca, Coffey Projects, Heritage Management Services, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Mondriaan Foundation, Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture.
02/10/08