Stuff Magazines

MY SPACE

Artist Jess Rawcliffe’s workplace is as public as you can get.

WORDS NAOMI LARKIN PHOTOGRAPH DEBORAH MacLEOD

Describe the space: “Rauora Park in central Christchurch is part of East Frame, a post-quake project aiming to improve the liveability of this part of the city. The concrete monolith behind me is a section of the Berlin Wall, gifted to the Christchurch City Council and installed here in 2019. The installation will be updated regularly with new murals within the theme of inspiring hope for the future. The bright colours of my mural, completed in February, stand out against the urban backdrop. The towering female form is a sort of guardian for the city of Ōtautahi – it’s based on a photo of Isla Martin taken by Naomi Haussman, both local creatives. Finishing such a project is so rewarding as it’s an artwork that can be enjoyed by the masses.” What inspires you about this space? “A wall is such an explicit symbol of division, and a fallen one, such as the Berlin Wall, is a powerful symbol of overcoming that. Being given the opportunity to bring new life and purpose to such a historically significant object is extremely humbling. Post-quake Christchurch provided street artists and muralists with new spaces to create and there was an urgent need to speak to that devastation, using art. Sometimes the most inspiring thing about a blank wall is its limitless potential.” What feelings does the space

evoke? “The park is an area to commute, create, play or rest. It has openness and freedom. Four tonnes of concrete and steel has a huge presence. The physical and metaphorical weight is able to be broken up by the painted surface and the space that surrounds it, inviting contemplation. The object is a poignant reminder of its original purpose to segregate people, however the repurposing allows room to consider that we live in a society without such blatant divisions. I hope people will take time to consider the less obvious divisiveness that we have in society, and imagine ways to dismantle these boundaries.”

What is your role? “Public art in urban environments contributes to community well-being as it encourages individuals to care more about where they live. If I can produce something that makes people think, stop for even a moment or is evocative in some way, then I feel like I’ve done my job.”

CONTENTS

en-nz

2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuffmagazines.pressreader.com/article/284249533324842

Stuff Limited