Ralph Hotere is threatening to take back his giant painting at Founders Theatre in Hamilton because, he says, staff have neglected and disowned the $250,000 work.
Theatre staff wanted the 10m x 3m painting, which covers the foyer wall, to be removed to make way for promotions of upcoming shows, he said.
Staff did not understand the abstract painting and said they received negative feedback from the public, who referred to it as the bar code.
The painting, commissioned by the Hamilton City Council in 1973 for $10,000, has been scratched and has had posters taped on to it.
Hotere said the painting was designed for Hamilton and should stay.
"You don't just get rid of a work just because it doesn't fit a bloody building.
"It hasn't been looked after. I don't think they actually deserve it."
Council community services manager Sue Duignan said the foyer was being changed and the designers were trying to fit in both the painting and promotional space.
Ms Duignan said it was in the redesign brief to keep the painting and even create an extra space to explain and interpret the work's significance.
"It is a large and bold piece of public art that ought to be seen by the public.
"It was commissioned for the Founders Theatre and I'm sure Ralph Hotere had that in mind when he created it, so it should stay there."
Ms Duignan said theatre staff lacked appreciation for the painting and were not the right people to look after it. The work would get professional and regular care in the future.
She said the staff were trying to find more space to promote the theatre and it was unfortunate that Hotere had got wind of the negative comments.
"People react to art in different ways, particularly when it is abstract.
"I've been very upset by the negative publicity and want to reassure Mr Hotere that we think the art is gorgeous and an asset to the city."
Ms Duignan said the Founders Theatre was the most appropriate place to display the work because thousands of people visited the centre every year.
However she could not guarantee where the painting would hang until the design plans were finished.
Hotere is one of New Zealand's most distinguished artists, honoured recently by an Auckland City Art Gallery retrospective.
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