Urban Art Projections
Ōtautahi is home to an incredibly talented, diverse community of artists who are being recognised with a special installation lighting up the city.
Presented by ChristchurchNZ and Watch This Space, Spotlight – Urban Art Projections is proudly shining a light on the work of four local female artists. This was made possible with support from the Hine te Hiringa – Empower Women Utilising FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Fund, that works to celebrate and empower women.
Through these artworks, the community has the opportunity to connect more directly with stories of women and to consider the role women play in creating strong whānau and communities.
Get to know the artists and their work...
Jessie Rawcliffe
Jessie Rawcliffe is a multi-disciplinary artist, designer and muralist based in Christchurch. Her paintings are often recognisable for their figurative realism that differs from traditional portraiture as it aims to shift the power dynamic from the viewer to the subject.
Her haunting rotation projection is a study in craft and the understanding of movement, a new approach for the artist. The individual aspect of each image, pieced together with help from Immersive Reality’s Nicholas Keyse, heightens the recognition of each mark, the hand of the artist made evident even in the digital render.
The effect is painterly and human, a quality that is also found in the portrait-based subject. The slowly-moving image transitions from a female face to a hooded red skull, an evocative juxtaposition made even more powerful by the almost emotionless expression. This figure is an archetype, allowing the audience to reflect on their own experiences and ultimately, mortality.
River Jayden - TeTihio Kahukura
(Ngāti Tahu -Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa & Ngāti Maaniapoto)
River Jayden is a painter and graphic designer who uses traditional Māori toi and design in a contemporary context. She is known for bringing Māori culture to the forefront of her practice, as well as her illuminating colour palettes. TeTihio Kahukura translates to ‘The Citadel of Kahukura’ or the pinnacle of the rainbow. In te reo Māori, Kahukura is one of the names given for a rainbow. The spirit guardian Kahukura also plays an important role in the Kāi Tahu creation story. To Kāi Tahu, Kahukura is a god and the decorator of the whenua, bringing light, colour and beauty to all surroundings.
Jayden’s use of bright colours and subtle animated movements ignite the korero of Kahukura, bringing vivid and bold light into the Ōtautahi cityscape and showcasing the beauty of toi Māori.
Lydia Hannah Thomas - Wall of Blooms
Also known as Bloom n Grow Gal, Lydia Hannah Thomas serves as Ōtautahi’s urban gardener, 'planting' flowers and spreading tiny blooms of beauty in unexpected spaces across the city, often small in scale and in unexpected locations.
Her captivating and poetic projection transforms the wall into a lively garden of energetic blooms. The illustration showcases dynamic flowers unfolding from unexpected spots, gracefully swaying as if caught in the wind. Inspired by the urban gardeners of Ōtautahi and the beauty of nature, Wall of Blooms reflects our ever-changing cityscape and the determination of blooms that thrive amidst concrete cracks, instilling a sense of wonder and appreciation for life's precious moments.
The projection invites viewers to pause and observe the flowers' growth, fostering a connection with nature and celebrating the simple yet beautiful aspects of life that surround us every day. A poignant reminder of the resilience and beauty found in unexpected places.
Jimirah Baliza - Get a grip
Local independent graphic designer, illustrator and artist, Jimirah Baliza is a creative problem solver at heart. He has a passion for working with entrepreneurs, local businesses, community groups and organisations, enhancing their visual communications and their ability to engage, empower and educate across print, screen and space.
Baliza’s installation is a playful invitation to passers-by, an invitation to pause and immerse ourselves in a scene that transcends our immediate experience. The animated depiction of a retro arcade claw machine embodies the unpredictable nature of life, reminding us that it is often filled with both ups and downs.
Baliza presents a whimsical moment of candy floss pink and baby blue nostalgia, transporting us back to a time of innocence and wonder, where the act of winning a prize was a heart-pounding adventure. We are encouraged to keep on, to go again and to get our rewards and to revel in that success.
Mana Wāhine Art Installation
Another recent recognition of wāhine artists here in Christchurch includes the Mana Wāhine Art Installation, made possible with support from the Hine te Hiringa – Empower Women Utilising FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Fund.
Two Ngāi Tahu artists, Rachael Rakena and Turumeke Harrington developed artworks that highlight and celebrate wāhine Māori, both past and present. These inspiring and beautiful artworks aimed to celebrate and uplift Wāhine katoa, as well as increase knowledge, interest and engagement with stories and history related to women in the region.
The artworks were initially installed near the Kate Sheppard memorial, and were also included in Tīrama Mai, the annual Matariki festival of light here in Ōtautahi.
