German Artist Uses Auckland as Green Canvas in Global First

German Artist Uses Auckland as Green Canvas in Global First

German born artist Ralf Witthaus is renowned for his incredible large-scale landscape art back home, and now he’s bringing the unorthodox discipline to the Auckland Botanic Gardens in a project that is so ambitious it is of global proportions.

From 8 – 18 October the public can come see Ralf and a team of German volunteers, along with some Kiwi helping hands, creating live artwork at the Botanic Gardens as part of his very first international installation. From 18 – 28 October the complete masterpiece will be on display.

Sure to wow Kiwis, the project is fittingly named ‘The Borehole to New Zealand’ as it literally connects the hemispheres by way of two simultaneous lawn art installations – one in Germany and a mirror image to be created in Auckland, with each measuring roughly 100m in diameter.

With STIHL brushcutters as paintbrushes the installation is expected to take the team 700 man hours, but Ralf is confident the output will more than justify the labour.

“When I found out STIHL NZ was supporting me in my vision and I’d be coming to New Zealand to complete the other half of my installation, it was really a dream come true. I have completed a number of landscape art projects but never one that spans the globe,” says Ralf.

“The work will reflect a bore hole, showing the relationship between one side of the world to the other – hence the graphic reflection. The finished product will be a real vision, from both sides of the world.”

STIHL New Zealand Managing Director Jim Bibby says STIHL is pleased to be sponsoring this dual hemisphere project.

“Ralf is using STIHL equipment to create this amazing artwork, and Kiwis love their gardens and appreciate fine art, so it was only natural for us to support the project.

“We hope people get along to the Auckland Botanic Gardens to support Ralf and the crew and see them hard at work,” says Jim.

‘The Borehole to New Zealand’ is the first piece of work in Witthaus’ International Lawn Show which he predicts will take a decade to complete and hopes will touch countries across the globe.

Ralf has shown his drawings, collages and installations in over a hundred exhibitions in Germany and Europe and several books on his work have been published. His most famous project is the ‘Federal Lawn Show 2010’ a lawn art work stretching 7 kilometers through the inner green belt of Cologne.

When: 8 – 18 October 2012 to see the team in action
18 – 28 October the complete masterpiece will be on display.

Where: Auckland Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Road, Auckland
Cost: Free
Ends

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