Micro Sites [part 1]

Micro Sites is a series of 12 small, temporary public art projects by 13 artists that are intriguing, subtle and surprising discoveries for people living, working and walking through Auckland’s Learning Quarter.

The Learning Quarter encompasses Albert Park, The University of Auckland, AUT University and surrounding streets and neighbourhoods.

The Micro Sites project was conceived as an opportunity for artists to create small-scale interventions that run against the grain or interfere with everyday perceptions and experiences of a place or neighbourhood.

Micro Sites is a public art initiative of Auckland City Council developed in partnership with The University of Auckland and AUT University.

1 Signposts (blank)

Site: 1, 3, 6, 7 and 18
Artist: Thomas Finn Stewart
Location: Governor Fitzroy Place, St Paul Street, Symonds Street, Alfred Street, and Wellesley Street East
Materials: Wood, paint

Five white signposts invite interpretation. Signposts (blank) aim to emulate a common public object.

When rendered completely white, and with text and imagery stripped away, these objects cease to retain their utility as place makers. Their purpose becomes vague and questionable.

2 Lost, Found

Site: 2
Artist: Xu Li
Location: Ledges along AUT D Building on St Paul Street
Materials: Super Sculpey, wires, foil, paper, acrylic and resin

Discover a secret world of small-scale naïve sculptures and figurines painted in simple colours. They are arranged to be interactive with each other and with their location.

Xu Li has been inspired by the dream world and her work prompts us to ask “have you had a dream?” Everything that happened in that dream was so real and reasonable, but when you woke up you started to suspect that you’d lost some of the dream. Nevertheless, if you are willing to stop and take notice, it is there just waiting to be found.

3 The view upon ascending/descending a concrete stair

Site: 4
Artist: Anthony Phillip Cribb
Location: Walkway next to AUT WM Building, connecting St Paul Street and Mount Street
Materials: Steel, MDF and found materials.

A wall-mounted steel sarcophagus that contains a number of miniature landscapes that can be seen through small viewing portals.

The reduced scale of the miniature encourages interiority on the part of the spectator. Using this theory as a framework, Cribb seeks to create a Micro Site that offers the spectator a transcendent view past the everyday.

4 stickup

Site: 5
Artist: Taarati Taiaroa
Location: Walkway connecting St Paul Street and Mount Street
Materials: Existing steel poles, electroplated copper, steel sleeve, "heritage green" paint.

Three existing tree props refurnished with a polished copper-plated surface exposed to the elements which will naturally oxidise over time.

The props stand under a 120-year-old Pohutakawa tree. They have out-grown their original function of supporting the branches and as a result present ready-made sculptural forms. Their once unnoticed presence highlighted their original 'heritage-green' colour's effectiveness in blending landscape and architecture in day-to-day life, amongst a busy traffic intersection and pedestrian walkways.

5 Fairy Bright Eyes

Site: 8
Artist: Ryan Monro
Location: Hanging off the University of Auckland gymnasium near 24 Symonds Street.
Materials: Brass, crystals, metal fixtures, chain, stainless steel wire

A chandelier hangs over an alleyway. At first it symbolises luxury and hope but as it degrades over time it becomes a symbol of dystopia.

Rarely seen in the present day, and never seen hanging outside on a busy city street, Fairy Bright Eyes is a correlation for viewers to think about. It is an object of a utopian history. Once regarded as a social statement, the chandelier is now a somewhat clichéd metaphor; a failed ideal. Over time Fairy Bright Eyes will degrade, the atmosphere of the city will diminish its original appearance. By expressing principles of hope and belief, it is a symbol of utopia, which will slowly turn into a symbol of dystopia.

6 Signs for Mechanics Bay: NO SWIMMING, LOOKOUT, and BEACH ACCESS

Site: 9, 10 and 11
Artist: Asumi Mizuo
Location: Alten Road Reserve and Anzac Avenue
Materials: Street signs

Signboards installed on existing lampposts show the way to the now-reclaimed historic coastline of Mechanics Bay.

The artwork is not the signboards themselves. The signs are an indication of the significance of the past and the change in this area of Central Auckland.

The signs highlight the issues between the city and its history. Some may not recognise the underlying significance; the signs will provide an opportunity to ponder on the seemingly disconnected relationship with land, water and people in the Auckland CBD.

7 -.- (dash-dot-dash)

Site: 12
Artist: Trenton Garratt
Location: Kitchener Street, opposite Bacon’s Lane
Materials: Keyhole, LED light

A flashing keyhole in a white door. "Dash-dot-dash" is Morse Code for "k"; an abbreviation for OK. The keyhole presents literal and symbolic evocations of security, secrecy, privacy, mistrust, mystery and the acquisition of knowledge.

The door leads to a series of tunnels built as air-raid shelters during World War II. Garratt is interested in that historic moment of a people's pragmatism driven by fear and aggression that lead to the building of these tunnels as a shelter. He investigates the tunnel network and its relationship to the current activities above in the presence of the public parks, the New Zealand High Court and the University of Auckland.