The Hundertwasserites are having a go at John Nickless. The claim of hordes of tourists is actually a foundation myth of the Hundertwasser project.
Arty types from all over Europe would rush to Kiwiland to stand gobsmacked before the new creation. How could such a wonder be created by so small a town?
We meanwhile would puff out our chests, clink the money in our pockets, and inwardly congratulate ourselves on our amazing cleverness. I exaggerate, but only slightly.
Current supporters seem to be claiming to have grown out of such childish fantasies, but isn't saying that the project will do for Whangarei what the Guggenheim has done for Bilbao making exactly the same claim?
The Hundertwasser is built on a solid foundation of myth - that it fulfils the artist's vision (it is Stan Semenoff's vision), that it is Hundertwasser's gift to Whangarei (he made no gift to Whangarei), that it is about art (it is overwhelmingly about money) that $10 million is
being given to Whangarei (should it exist, the $10 million will be a subsidy to the tourism industry.
