The Four Plinths Temporary Sculpture Project
The Wellington Sculpture Trust is pleased to present Regan Gentry’s Green Islands, the inaugural Four Plinths Temporary Sculpture Project commission.
Commissioning temporary public sculpture is a new direction for the Wellington Sculpture Trust. Our aim is to provide public access to a challenging programme of temporary art, to excite public imagination and extend the community’s understanding and appreciation of contemporary practice.
A panel comprised of arts professionals and trustees of the Wellington Sculpture Trust identified and invited thirteen leading New Zealand artists to submit an expression of interest in this project. The Trust is excited to be able to furnish an opportunity for artists to showcase their work on a temporary basis, whilst also providing an opportunity for the public to enjoy an ongoing refreshment of sculptural offerings.
The site is challenging in its scale and tough weather conditions but the panel were thrilled with the enthusiasm of the responses.
Katy Campbell of the Wellington Sculpture Trust and Chair of the Selection Panel and Advisory committee comments, “We are pleased to have had excellent support from the Public Art Panel of the Wellington City Council, without whom this first project would not have been possible. We have been honoured to embark on this journey where we can showcase some of the outstanding talent of New Zealand artists. The project will provide extra interest in Wellington and enliven a prime site which has been long overdue for some action”.
The sculptures are situated on the four concrete ‘plinths’ in Te Papa forecourt. The works are installed for a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years, and remain the property of the artist. The plinths themselves are 2m cubes, with a 10mm variation, shorter as they get closer to Te Papa. They are made of solid reinforced concrete, clad with a bluestone tile around the four sides.
The Four Plinths are located in a vast open area dominated by architectural features. Green Islands was developed by the artist in response to the striking lack of living environment in much of the Te Papa Tongarewa plaza.
Concept
On top of the plinth closest to Circa Theatre is a healthy head of toetoe (Cortaderia richardii) complete with plumes. The next plinth sports a large Pohutukawa (Metrosideros - Pacific Princess), protected at its base by a thick brood of tussock (Poa cita). The third plinth supports a large flax in flower (Phormium tenax). The plinth bordering Te Papa Tongarewa is the foundation for a grand cabbage tree (Cordyline australis) thrusting forth from a spiky mound of flowering Agapanthus (Africanus sp.). All the species are represented at a natural scale.
Context
Throughout central Wellington, on main transit-lines to and from the CBD and even within a 500m radius of the Four Plinths site, are numerous examples of the featured plant species. Commonly planted by Council workers to create islands of green in the sea of concrete that is Wellington City, these plants help define the city and ‘our place’ in this land. Ironically, one of these common Wellington plants is not from this country (Agapanthus), and another is not native to this area (Pohutukawa). The mix of native plants differentiates us from other countries while the coexistence with exotic plants draws connections with these foreign lands. Taken in conjunction with the New Zealand themes explicit in the material and mode of construction, and showcased in nearby Te Papa, the depiction of these plants will cause viewers to consider the origins and expressions of their own identity.
With reference to local sculpture, Green Islands fits conceptually with Ian Athfield’s Nikau Palms , Neil Dawson’s Ferns and Sky Blues by Bill Culbert.
The Artist
Regan Gentry’s recent exhibitions include Of Gorse of Course, a solo exhibition held at both TheNewDowse in Lower Hutt and Sarjeant Gallery in Wanganui. His temporary site works have been included in Bondi Beach’s Sculpture by the Sea, and Sculpture on the Gulf on Waiheke Island. Skeleton Trees is permanently sited at Connell’s Bay Sculpture Park in Auckland.
Regan is the Tylee Cottage Artist in Residence from December 2007 to June 2008.
