22 May 2012

Reflection, not on our waterfront

13/07/2011 9:41:00 a.m.

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Reflection: a gift denied. Photo: Matt Duncan.

Reflection: a gift denied. Photo: Matt Duncan.

REGULARLY voted top sculpture in Capital Times best of Wellington polls: Solace in the wind is missing his buddy Reflection, also by Max Patte, which used to be next to the overbridge leading to Chaffers Park, near the Rowing Club on Wellington’s waterfront.
What happened to the crouching man lost in thought?
The statue was lent to Wellington Waterfront Ltd for an agreed period of three months, and then extended to six. When its time was up, Patte offered it as a gift to the city – and the city declined.
The nearly two metre high sculpture now sits in Te Papa’s storefront window – on sale for $45,000.
Artist Max Patte: “It’s a bit of a funny one… Reflection was fantastically well received during its instillation. It surely added to Wellingtons claim as ‘the creative capital’ which according to recent articles in the press is a title that some people view we are losing.
“They also said it would set a precedent if they let me have my sculpture down there… That it might encourage other people to put their sculptures all over the city.”
Wellington Waterfront Ltd chief executive Ian Pike says the sculpture was denied for the benefit of our Arts Capital title.
“The essence of that is having an eclectic collection of artwork on the waterfront; we saw having something in very similar form and style within 500m of Solace as not desirable. We don’t have two of anything on the waterfront,” he says.
“We also want to emphasise that we’re a Pacific nation, and lots of what we want to do will promote that. This piece did not fit that brief.”
As for Patte’s claims that Wellington Waterfront didn’t want him to “set a precendent” for other artists – Pike says they are offered gifts from artists “all the time”.
“We get offers constantly, most of which we turn down.”   
Pike says offers, including that of Reflection, are directed to the Wellington Sculpture Trust and the Wellington City Council Arts Advisory.
Wellington Sculpture Trust chairman Neil Plimmer, however, denies the Trust was involved in the Reflection decision, or that they are regularly consulted with over offers from artists.
“It happens very rarely. It’s true that if someone offers a sculpture to the City Council or Wellington Waterfront, they sometimes ask us for advice on whether to accept it. But that has happened once or twice in the last few years.”
Patte says his offer is still open.
“I would love Reflection to be re-installed, there or somewhere else for Wellingtonians to enjoy… Offering it to the city for permanent display is my way of giving something back to a city that has offered me so much and to the people who supported and loved Solace as much as they do.
“If Wellington Waterfront are in doubt… put it to the vote and let the public decide if they want a free art work or not.”
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Cover Story

Best of Wellington 2011

Briefs

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