South Invercargill sculpture winner announced

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Media Release - March 18, 2015

South Invercargill sculpture winner announced

South Alive announces that the winner of the South Invercargill National Sculpture Competition is ‘Tale of Southland - Murihiku’ by David Trubridge.

The design is for an imposing whale tail of painted metal construction, with a height of 7 metres and a span of 10 metres. The sculpture will be sited on the corner of Elles Rd and Dalrymple St in South Invercargill.

The artist describes this as “a rich connection to the land and sea and flourishing coexistence of cultures. The geometric patterning of nature provides the blueprint for strength and growth and the tail flick of a great whale propels a forward momentum.”

The winning design was selected by an expert panel from 37 nationwide entries and 1 international entry. David Trubridge is a renowned New Zealand designer, based in Hawkes Bay. (bio attached).

With the contracts for the manufacture signed last week, construction can now commence. The anticipated timeframe for the sculpture’s installation is approximately four months.

“This is a massive project for South Invercargill”, says South Alive chair Robyn Hickman. “We are excited that the sculpture construction is now underway and look forward to this beautiful addition to the South Invercargill landscape.”

“After selecting the design by David Trubridge, all parties agreed that the most practical and cost-effective option was to manage the construction and installation locally, using Invercargill-based expertise. Because of the size and scale of the sculpture there were significant engineering and manufacturing complexities to resolve. We are grateful for the ingenuity and commitment of the local team to successfully address these.”

“We have certainly learned a lot about the complexities of undertaking a nationwide competition and a large scale sculpture” says Robyn Hickman. “This is an utterly fantastic gift to South Invercargill. It will make a huge contribution to the rejuvenation of the south of the city. This is also the first public sculpture in South Invercargill and one of the most substantial pieces of sculpture in the south of NZ.”

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Further information also on www.southalivesculpture.nz

And on South Alive at www.southalive.org.nz

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BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

David Trubridge is an internationally recognised designer. He has an unusual story: he trained as a Naval Architect in the UK where he was born, but a lifestyle choice soon led him back into the workshop, where he developed his skill as a craftsman. Setting sail across the world in a yacht with his young family, he continued to develop his design vernacular throughout the Pacific before finally establishing roots in New Zealand.

David’s work came to international prominence in 2001 when his Body Raft was purchased by Cappellini for manufacture. The fluid and elegant lines of this piece responded to the designer’s accumulated experience

and love of the ocean. The Coral light followed in 2003, establishing a blueprint for kitset products that minimised environmental footprint whilst also involving the consumer in the creation process.

The Coral light is now a design classic. David’s work has been purchased by many of the leading galleries and museums around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. The company continues to challenge material conventions to create innovative design solutions in a fusion of craftsmanship, technology and integrity across a wide range of products, from jewellery to architecture and sculptures.

“I do believe that we need great works of art as they extend what it means to be human. Art is so important: it is constantly questioning, pushing our boundaries of perception and experience - probing for

that edge, its friction keeping alive the spark of life. Without that movement we are static and lifeless. Artists are the genetic mutants that are essential for the continuing philosophical evolution of humans.

Most art will die out and be forgotten, but if we didn’t encourage all of it, we would not have those few brilliant and vital advances.” - David Trubridge

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Media Release

March 18, 2015

South Invercargill sculpture competition donor

South Alive is delighted to now be able to disclose the identity of the donor whose generosity is funding a major piece of public sculpture for South Invercargill. The donor is retired Invercargill businessman, Cliff Broad, currently resident in Queenstown.

Mr Broad said “I initially contacted Janette Malcolm at South Alive with the offer of funding a significant sculpture for South Invercargill, partly because of my family links with South Invercargill and also because I am impressed with the work that South Alive is doing”.

Mr Broad’s family were amongst the early pioneers of Invercargill and his mother’s family, the Listers, were early residents of the Earn St area. Mr Broad attributes his particular interest in South Invercargill to the links with his Lister family.

Mr Broad was very pleased that the ensuing sculpture competition attracted a large number of entries from throughout New Zealand plus an entry from Europe. The selection of the finalists, then of the winning sculpture, was undertaken by a panel of six invited judges which included renowned sculptors Russell Beck and Johnny Penisula, Southland Museum and Art Gallery curator Irene Schroder, and representatives of South Alive, the donor and the Invercargill City Council. “I am very grateful to the panel members for all the enthusiasm, expertise and goodwill that they have contributed to the project to make this happen.”

Invercargill already has a piece of public art commissioned by Mr Broad, in the form of the well-known weka sculpture in Esk St.

South Alive chair, Robyn Hickman, says “South Alive was awed by Mr Broad’s offer. His generosity in donating $100,000 for the sculpture is something we never imagined would come our way. Mr Broad also funded an additional $6,000 for the three finalists to develop their proposals and he has funded the administration costs of the project. We are immensely grateful for all his support, and have also very much appreciated the excellent working relationship South Alive has had with him and with the panel members”.

Biographical notes about Cliff Broad:

• born in Invercargill and educated at North School and Southland Boys High School.

• Qualified as a chartered accountant, and was a partner in Broad Christie & Partners chartered accountancy firm (now McCulloch & Partners). Involved in fishing, farming, forestry, finance & tourism ventures.

• Was a partner in Broad & Piper Sharebroking.

• After retirement, was an elected member of the Southland Regional Council for 12 years, including being the inaugural Chair of the Regional Council.

• Has had a lifelong interest in the southern wilderness areas, including through tramping and mountaineering and through conservation interests.

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