Christchurch’s fourth major artwork to be revealed

There was Michael Parekowhai’s bull, Bill Culbert’s Bebop and then Martin Creed’s bright-shining statement on the side of the building — now Christchurch Art Gallery has confirmed the city’s fourth major work of art will be created by highly acclaimed British artist Bridget Riley.

The design for the special large-scale commission will be revealed during the Christchurch Art Gallery Foundation’s fourth annual gala-dinner fundraiser on 15 October, along with the 11 currently anonymous donors behind its purchase. It is the first time the Foundation’s fundraiser will be held inside the Gallery, in the NZI Foyer.

“In keeping with being back inside the building, Bridget’s work will be a stunning indoors piece, forming the centrepiece of a small exhibition of her work from May next year,” says Gallery Director Jenny Harper.

Regarded as one of the finest painters in the world today, Riley was identified with “op art” during the 1960s but is better viewed as a successor to post-impressionism.

Adds Harper: “I can’t think of a better way to introduce Bridget Riley to Christchurch. Her works are incredibly precise and beautifully spare, but impressions of movement, warping and hidden images in her work are very much a window on the real world.

“Having known Bridget personally for some 35 years, I have tremendous respect for her work, and I’m very confident of her ability to create something wonderful for Christchurch.”

About 250 guests from around the country will wine and dine during next month’s gala dinner, as well as have their chance to bid on 15 exclusive auction items, including a “golden ticket” for a year’s free parking, a “great British getaway”, and a “wild-card” item rumoured to be a special art piece.

To celebrate the precise, minimal nature of Riley’s work, acclaimed Japanese chef Kazuya Yamauchi, of Kazuya Restaurant in Auckland, will create five special courses for diners. Yamauchi will also be joined in the kitchen by his friend Kinji, of Christchurch’s well-known Kinji Japanese Restaurant.

Funds raised during the evening will go towards the costs of installing the new Riley work and seed-funding the planned exhibition next May.

Riley’s is the fourth of five major works of art being purchased for the city, in order to mark the five years Christchurch Art Gallery was closed following the Canterbury earthquakes.

The Gallery is also raising support to set up a $5 million endowment fund by 2019, which will allow it to steadily grow the city’s art collection into the future.

“We know good art really matters to Christchurch, and we want everyone who believes that to join with us,” says Harper.

ENDS

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