Walk of art to brighten city centre

Richard Orjis with his new art installation along Bledisloe Walkway. Photo / Natalie Slade

The opening of five public art light boxes in Bledisloe walkway has given the heart of Auckland City a new artistic beat.

The artwork, which runs between Aotea Square and Wellesley St, is the first of three planned new exhibition spaces in the Auckland CBD.

Councillor Greg Moyle, chairman of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, said the light boxes would "beautify" the area.

"It will be an important walkway to the best urban space in the new Auckland City. It will vitalise the city."

The walkway already had artwork, but Mr Moyle said the art boxes would give the area "something more exciting - more cutting-edge".

Mr Moyle also saw the light boxes as a way of bringing contemporary art to a wider audience - and to people who might not see it otherwise. "The art won't be to everyone's taste, but that's art, isn't it?"

Mr Moyle said the light boxes were a forum for up-and-coming artists.

"It will give the artists extra exposure. It won't cost them anything, and they'll get a commission to get their work exhibited."

The first installation in the walkway is a series of five photographs by Auckland multimedia artist Richard Orjis. Mr Orjis described the series as "revolving around the themes of beauty, nature and lifecycles" and images in the boxes included jewel-encrusted robots and a garden with rising dough and candles.

Mr Orjis' work will stay in the light boxes until October, when another artists' work will take its place.