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A sculpture by Michael Smither, one of New Zealand's best-known artists, has now been installed in New Plymouth's Pukekura Park. The work is situated in the lake behind and to the left of Brooklands Bowl the famous sound shell where luminaries such as Sir Elton John have performed.
Michael Smither has worked closely with New Plymouth District Council on the sculpture for the last 5 years with the project coming to fruition October 2007. Costs of materials and installation have been met by New Plymouth District Council's Art in Public Places Fund. Aotearoa is now sited in the Pukekura Park lily pond to the right of the sound shell.
Aotearoa comprises four white-painted bronze units of the same cloud shape, with each unit rotated to present a different view. The work is closely related to his cloud paintings.
Michael Smither became a keen observer of clouds when he lived on New Plymouth's Carrington Rd in the 1980s. This resulting artwork is designed to hover over and be reflected in water, and the artist requested the sculpture be placed in Pukekura Park - a place he has spent a lot of time enjoying and observing the flora along with cloud gazing.
The council will manage the lilies in the lake so that there is sufficient clear water around the sculpture for its "long white cloud" form to be reflected, and also to maintain the artwork.
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