The Hairy Maclary and Friends sculptures sculptures are public art and as such, are entitled to remain unmolested by surprise additions and embellishments, writes Dame Lynley Dodd.
Given the reaction to the activities of the Ninja Knits group over the past few days, I would like to address a couple of the issues involved.
It may have been regarded as a 'bit of fun' to 'bomb' the Hairy Maclary and Friends sculptures with knitted decorations, however, the
sculptures are public art and as such, are entitled to remain unmolested by surprise additions and embellishments. Interfering with public art in this way is, in my view, regarded as vandalism anywhere else in the world and is treated accordingly.
However harmless it may seem, such interference invites copycat activity, leading to the possibility of damage. A precedent is set which becomes difficult to control and I cannot see Tauranga City Council being too enthusiastic if faced with the difficulty and expense of removing things like spray paint and glue from Hairy Maclary and his friends.
Aside from intellectual property and Trademark issues, which also come into the picture, permission for the knitted decorations was neither requested nor given and in her BOP Times interview, a spokeswoman for the Ninjas was quoted as saying that "the knitting would be up for as long as necessary". She asked the public to "leave them be". Clearly, the knitting was intended to last.
Thanks to sculptor Brigitte Wuest's wonderful work, the sculptures have become popular with locals and visitors alike. They should be allowed to speak for themselves.
