One day, we hope, the land under the Ports of Auckland will be open to the public – perhaps even redeveloped into a vibrant seaside precinct connecting the city with its harbour. (Wishful thinking, we know, but we can dream, right?)
In the meantime, the port has just launched The Lightship, a vast digital light wall that wraps two sides of its new multi-storey car-handling facility (aka a carpark). The new site for contemporary artwork is 110-metres long and 13-metres wide, with seven screens situated next to one of the busiest arterial routes in and out of the city. It is public art, yes, but a fluid, ever-changing version of it.
The inaugural artwork for the new site is by Janet Lilo. The multi-coloured block letters of ISLOVE wrap the building in pink, purple and yellow hues, and are interspersed with an image of rippling waves. It’s mesmeric and healing, a response to a year burdened by crises.
By the time you read this, though, it’ll be gone – replaced by a piece by Sorawit Songsataya, which will follow with a programme of work by emerging artists. Catch them while you can.
Bledisloe Wharf, Auckland
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