Otago Girls High School pupils (from left) Loisi Afimeimounga (16), Vivienne Moana (17), Sarah Tavake (13), Vaioleti Afimeimounga (13) and Annie Uele (16) prepare to put money near the art installation Material World outside Dunedin Community Gallery….

Homeless installation causes a stir

An art installation portraying a homeless person sleeping rough on a Dunedin street is causing a stir in the city.

“Te Po” exhibition curator Tokerau Wilson, of Wellington, said the artwork, Material World, was installed outside Dunedin Community Gallery, in Princes St, on Wednesday.

The work consists of a pillow covered by a sleeping bag with shoes at one end of the blanket and a beanie at the other.

Many concerned people, including police officers, yesterday “jiggled” the installation to ensure there was nobody under the sleeping bag.

The officers told Mr Wilson he should have contacted police about the artwork before it was installed, because many people had called voicing concern.

Other people placed bags of food and about $40 in notes and coins next to the installation.

A homeless person sleeping in public “stunned” a Dunedin resident more than a Wellingtonian because it was more common in the capital, Mr Wilson said.

The work was designed to create awareness of homelessness and the money left by the installation would be given to the Dunedin Night Shelter and the food to Presbyterian Support Otago.

The Maori/Pasifika goth contemporary art exhibition at the gallery closes tomorrow.

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/homeless-installation-causes-stir

https://twitter.com/thebigideanz/status/746179953893400576

Drawing together the works and practice of 9 artists from different medias. Incorporating fine art, painting, sculpture, print making and film into a showcase of contemporary art in a cohesive show. We celebrate Matariki, exploring Māori/Pasifika cosmogony and “a period of darkness and ignorance”. Te Pō presents some of our brightest young talents in conjunction with older more established artists.

21 – 25 June 10am – 5pm Daily
Opening Tues 21st @ 5pm
Late Night Fri 24th open til 8pm
Puaka Matariki Festival 2016