Auckland City Council
Media release

12 July 2010

Artist Richard Orjis lights up the Bledisloe Walkway

A series of luxurious images by renowned Auckland artist Richard Orjis will be the first to grace the Bledisloe Walkway light boxes – an exciting new exhibition space in the heart of Auckland city.

From 17 July 2010, a series of light boxes in the Bledisloe Walkway, which runs between Aotea Square and Wellesley Street, will provide artists with a unique outdoor space to display contemporary artwork.

The first of three proposed sets of public art light boxes planned for Auckland’s CBD, the Bledisloe Walkway light boxes will house approximately four, three-month exhibitions each year featuring the work of individual artists and curated group exhibitions.

Councillor Greg Moyle, chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, says: “The light box programme will expose members of the public, who would not usually visit a traditional exhibition space, to contemporary art.

“The light boxes will beautify our city and local artists and curators will have the opportunity to showcase their work in a dynamic, high-profile location.”   

Park by Richard Orjis features a series of five photographs, which depict an opulent fantasy world.

One image shows jewel-encrusted robots seated majestically in a bed; other images suggest an artificial garden teeming with spring flowers, rising dough and plastic bones, and dotted with candles.

“Orjis conjures up a world where nature looks beautiful, pure and intrinsically good, but at the same time appears dangerous, decadent and destructive,” says Auckland City Council, manager public art Rob Garrett.

For future exhibitions, Auckland City Council is seeking proposals from individual artists, art institutions, independent curators, art galleries, art schools and artists’ project spaces.

Initially the focus will be on seeking proposals from Auckland-based art professionals and organisations. From time to time, the council will directly invite artists and curators to propose exhibition concepts.

The light box programme will meet two of the council’s key expectations for public art by “creating richness” through the diversity of artists’ expressions and stories over time; and “generating surprise” through exhibitions that will surprise, delight and challenge over time.

For more information about exhibiting and information about the current exhibition, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/arts/publicart/default.asp

Arts, University of Auckland in 2006 having previously earned a BVA in 2001 at Auckland University of Technology. He has exhibited extensively, including exhibitions in New York, Basel, Miami, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Auckland.

ends

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