Living Room 09 kicks off on 19 April, with eight days of contemporary creative events, installations and performances, bringing world-class art to the streets of Auckland’s CBD.

A fantastic selection of international and local artists, dancers and spoken word poets present over 30 Living Room performances and associated events from 19 to 26 April.

Living Room 09 kicks off on 19 April, with eight days of contemporary creative events, installations and performances, bringing world-class art to the streets of Auckland’s CBD.

A fantastic selection of international and local artists, dancers and spoken word poets present over 30 Living Room performances and associated events from 19 to 26 April.

“With so much on offer, Living Room 09 promises to be one of the highlights of Auckland’s art calendar this year,” says Councillor Toni Millar, deputy chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee.

“It’s a chance for all Aucklanders to enjoy the excitement of art right at street level. Such a lively and accessible line-up provides a wonderful opportunity to surprise you, entertain you, and get you thinking.”

Exploring the theme My home is where my heart is, artists delve into the concepts of belonging and identity, reflecting the evolving character of Auckland’s CBD through dynamic performance-based art.

First up is the Living Room 09 launch on 19 April where, at 1pm, Seoul artist Cho Duck Hyun’s Dark Water shipping container will be raised from the depths of the Viaduct Harbour to reveal treasures from the past. This is also a chance to meet some of the Living Room 09 artists and get a taste of things to come.

In Talanoa: Walk The Talk, Auckland artist Shigeyuki Kihara brings together surprising combinations of performing arts groups from Asia, America, Europe and the Pacific for two collaborative performances involving a Scottish pipe band, Chinese dragon dancers, Cook Island performers and Samba dancers.

Renowned New York artist, Aki Sasamoto will take us on an investigative journey of discovery through her sculptural home, uncovering her family secrets through challenging and humorous performance in Secrets of my mother’s child in Khartoum Place.

London based artists Gaia Alessi and Richard Bradbury will be sending shock waves and classical music around the CBD in their two-part performance Cargo/Host. In two separate performances a shipping container will burst into life with exploding fireworks and Handel’s Music for the royal fireworks performed by a chamber orchestra, marking 260 years since it was first performed. 

Emil Goh’s Umbrella Taxi service will be on hand to protect CBD pedestrians from the elements by taxiing them to their destinations under bright yellow umbrellas. Artist Wen Yau will also actively involve those walking the streets in i-(s)wear: T?n? Koe, where she’ll explore communication and miscommunication through performance.
Art extends into the night with Video Postcards, a series of short films, videos and animation by various artists in Freyberg Place each night from 9 to 11pm.

The Living Room 09 programme is supported by the British Council who is contributing with a series of performances and events including spoken word performances and a public symposium looking at how diversity through public art contributes to a city’s creativity and social inclusion.

Living Room 09 programme of events and performances

Living Room 09 launch
Meet the Living Room artists and watch the Dark Water shipping container emerge from the water at Princes Wharf.
Where: End of Princes Wharf
When: 19 April, 1pm

Cargo/Host
Sound, video, fireworks, shipping container.
Artists: Gaia Alessi, Richard Bradbury, London
Where: Freyberg Place
When: 21 April, noon (orchestra) and 7pm (fireworks); 22 April, noon (orchestra) and 7pm (fireworks)

Umbrella Taxi
Yellow umbrellas on the move.
Artist: Emil Goh, Seoul
Where: CBD, starting in Vulcan Lane
When: 21, 22 April, noon -5pm; 25 April, 1-4pm

Dark Water: the Antipodes Project
Shipping container rising from the water at Princes Wharf unveiling treasures from the past.
Artist: Cho Duck Hyun, Seoul
Where: Princes Wharf
When: 19 April, 1pm; 20, 21 April, noon – 6pm
22 April – 14 May, Artwork exhibited at Starkwhite Gallery

Talanoa: Walk The Talk
A ceremony of cross-cultural experimental performance.
Artist: Shigeyuki Kihara, Auckland
When/ Where: 19 April, 3-4pm, Khartoum Place;  24 April, 7-8pm, Freyberg Place

Secrets of My Mother’s Child
Sculptural, challenging, humorous performance art.
Artist: Aki Sasamoto, New York
Where: Khartoum Place
When: 22, 23, 25 April, 1-3pm

i-(s)wear: Tena Koe – add in marks over top of e and a
An exploration of communication and miscommunication at street level.
Artist: wen yau, Hong Kong
Where: Khartoum Place
When: 20, 21, 24, 26 April, 11am – 5pm

Video Postcards
A programme of short films, video work and animation focusing on identity.
Artists: Various
Where: Freyberg Place
When: 20 to 23 April, 9-11pm; 24 April 9-12pm

Events in conjunction with the British Council

Stringers
A dance performance exploring multi-cultural exchanges through abseiling.
Artist: Peter Takapuna
Where: Vulcan Lane
When: 24 April, 11- noon ; 25 April, 2-3pm, 26 April noon-1pm

Complaints Choir
Turning malady in melody.
Artists: Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen
Where: Freyberg Place
When: 26 April, 1-2pm

Spoken Word
Emerging and acclaimed spoken word poets
When/Where: 24 April, 6-7pm, Freyberg Place; 25 April, 5-7pm, Rakinos
Living Room 09 Symposium

Diversity through public art – a gathering of minds
Where: Galatos
When: 20 April, 6.30-10pm

Living Room Artist Talks

Meet and learn more about the Living Room artists
When/Where: 23 April, 1pm, Elam;  27 April, 4pm, AUT