Art at Britomart | Public art precinct, artworks, art events
Art at Britomart
SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE PRECINCT, ART HAS HAD A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE IDENTITY OF BRITOMART – AND REMAINS ESSENTIAL TO BRITOMART’S UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACE.
The founding vision for Britomart is a place that expresses the spirit and identity of contemporary New Zealand, by bringing together and celebrating its art, architecture, heritage, culture and commerce.
Today the precinct is home to the studios of many visual artists and designers and the HQs of performing arts organisations. Artworks can be found throughout the public spaces and private foyers of the precinct, and installations and public art events are regularly held here.
Through the ongoing commitment of Cooper and Company and others in the Britomart community, art will always be an essential part of the cultural fabric of the precinct.
Charitable arts trust
In 2004, Britomart owner Cooper and Company established the Britomart Arts Foundation, a charitable trust responsible for promoting the arts within the precinct. It was endowed with an initial sum of $1 million, settled as part of the Britomart development agreement.
Since then, the Foundation has funded a number of art-based events and installations at Britomart. Its most recent commission is the Sentinel installation, eight vertical interactive sculptural elements that will define the perimeter of Takutai Square.
The Britomart Arts Foundation also supports the new Britomart Project Space in Stanbeth House. This informal gallery space hosts several exhibitions a year of work from emerging and established New Zealand artists.
This dealer gallery is dedicated to the exhibition and sale of Ivan Clarke’s highly collectible Lonely Dog artworks, including limited-edition giclee prints, bronzes and books.
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The new 8m-tall interactive multimedia work in Takutai Square was inspired by the mysterious monolithic machines in Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’.
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The Poi Room, a retail gallery specialising in the work of local artists, jewellers, designers and craftspeople, is now open in the Showcase at the centre of the precinct.
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Named for the zenith star Pou Tū Te Rangi, Chris Bailey’s magnificent group of seven black pou reference family, community and Britomart’s early Māori and maritime histories.
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Denizens of after-dark Britomart may have witnessed the first phase of Britomart Live in action: a dynamic digital art project on the side of historic Stanbeth House.
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Brilliant native flora and fauna by stencil artist Hayley King, aka Flox, add vibrancy and life to the central walls at Britomart Car Park – as well as offering a valuable navigation guide to visitors.
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This unique art space in the window facade of the newly refurbished Stanbeth House exhibits a regularly changing line-up of work by New Zealand artists.
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Artist Shannon Novak uses his gift of synaesthesia to translate music into colour and shape. His new work in the Atrium explores traditional waiata, or songs, in honour of the Maori New Year.
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One of the earliest artworks to be established at Britomart was Pipi Beds, completed by Chaz Doherty. It references one of the important early food sources for Maori in the area.
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The importance for Auckland of preserving its historic buildings is highlighted this month with the switching on of a new light-based installation artwork by John Radford.
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Fragments from Sun Tzu’s ancient military text tangle with snippets from a tourist phrasebook in John Reynolds’ installation ‘The Art of War’, now at Britomart Project Space.
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A DVD and collage installation by New York-based Kiwi artist Jacqueline Fraser is the latest work to be projected onto the side of Stanbeth House.
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