AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

10 April 2007

Pssst… word on the street says there’s something going on in the Living Room

Expect the unexpected if you are taking a stroll through the CBD in the next few weeks. Two performing art installations from Auckland City Council’s Living Room series are set to come alive from 10 April 2007.

This Other City and WOTS UP will join the first two installations Makeover and Runner as part of a series of eight visual and performing art pieces appearing around the CBD in April and May as part of Living Room.

Living Room is funded by the CBD targeted rate and is one of many projects that form part of a 10-year action plan to enhance the urban environment and support the vitality and attractiveness of the CBD.

This Other City by John Radford and WOTS UP by Whare Purakau plan to grab the attention of Auckland’s residents and visitors with street performances and temporary sculpture installations that are guaranteed to entertain and evoke a reaction from the viewer.

This Other City will be performed in High Street, Durham Lane, Vulcan Lane and Karangahape Road, from 16 April. It will involve a character called The Surveyor and his team of Makers.

“To The Surveyor, who wanders the central city streets, Auckland doesn't exist. He's here laying out the plans for a completely different city. The Makers then build this other city in unusual 3D forms," explains John Radford.

Radford has been exhibiting his sculptures in New Zealand and overseas for the past 20 years. His TIP sculptures (better known as the “sunken heritage buildings”) in Western Park on Ponsonby Road are an Auckland icon.

Word On The Streets to Unite People or WOTS UP will see eight multi-talented performers travel around the CBD and stop at various locations to perform spoken word, Maori song and hip hop dance sequences.

WOTS UP producer and director, Tamati Patuwai, one of New Zealand’s most exciting up and coming artists, believes the performances will present a broad range of social themes to reflect Auckland’s culture.

“The songs, dance sections and spoken word pieces will present a range of themes that celebrate Auckland’s unique and exciting character, such as the dynamism of Auckland’s young people, our multi-cultural mix, and our vibrant arts,” he says.

“Although predominantly in English, some of the pieces will be delivered in various Pacific languages, highlighting our unique Pacific quality and character,” he adds.

For more information about the Living Room series, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd

ENDS

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