ART APPRECIATION: Whangarei artist Barbara O'Sullivan with some of the Hundertwasser-themed art on display at the former Northland Regional Council building. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
ART APPRECIATION: Whangarei artist Barbara O'Sullivan with some of the Hundertwasser-themed art on display at the former Northland Regional Council building. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
Schools have been using the Hundertwasser building proposal as a springboard to teach students about the man who lived much of his later life in a remote part of Bay of Islands.
Students' artworks based on the Austrian architect/artist's own work are now hanging in the ground floor and stairwellof the old Northland Harbour Board/Regional Council building.
Upstairs, shrouded in perspex but no longer shrouded in mystery, is the $200,000-plus model of what the building might look like if it gets Hundertwasserised. Whangarei artist Barbara O'Sullivan was among groups involved in arts and business invited to view the model last week before it goes to Whangarei Library for public viewing. Ms O'Sullivan said the building concept was "wonderful".
"It's not often you get a second chance at something so special. Those of us who have travelled overseas appreciate how outstanding buildings and artworks act as a magnet for visitors," she said.
"It's long overdue to raise the awareness of art in our community. This [Hundertwasser] is an extraordinary man who lived in New Zealand and loved Northland. He offered to give us a building, and here we have a second chance to have it. I hope we take it this time."
