Olympic spirit flows in Gisborne sculpture exhibit

For immediate release, 7 September 2007

Olympic spirit flows through Gisborne sculpture exhibition

The spirit of the Olympic movement is being brought to life this weekend as the Beijing Olympic Sculpture Exhibition opens in Gisborne on Sunday.

Hundreds of people are expected for the day’s events but millions more are likely to see and hear coverage over the next few weeks. Gisborne is the first city in the southern hemisphere, and one of only a dozen international cities, to host the exhibition.

The Governor-General, Anand Satyanand, will attend the day’s events as will two China Embassy officials, eight members of the Beijing Olympic organising committee (BOCOG), two from New Zealand Olympic Committee, local Members of Parliament and other dignitaries. Prime Minister Helen Clark was unable to attend but has sent her greetings through a video message to be broadcast on the day.

The dignitaries will be accompanied by a bevy of media including five China News representatives based in New Zealand who, in collaboration with South China TVS, will broadcast live from the events to more than eight million subscribers in the Guangdon province.

The official Opening Ceremony begins at Whangara with a dawn event hosted by Ngati Konohi, followed by a powhiri at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae hosted by Ngati Oneone. The ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at the site of the exhibition within the Rose Garden reserve next to the Taruheru River.

Olympic fever is brewing in Gisborne with flags raised in the main street and outlying townships, fences up and paving in place to receive the 110 copper, bronze and stainless steel sculptures, representing the work of international artists and portraying aspects of the Olympic movement. The sculptures are being arranged in a koru design.

New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General Barry Maister says the exhibition is about excellence, friendship and respect.

“These are the values of the Olympic Movement and we are delighted New Zealanders can share in the Olympic spirit at this open-air exhibition.

“The International Olympic Movement develops and values art and culture to promote excellence and international understanding. Together with sport, art and culture play an important role in inspiring New Zealanders to excel in all areas of their lives.“

The exhibition is an important component of a series of cultural activities organised by the BOCOG ahead of Beijing 2008. The exhibition remains open until 28 September.

Timetable for Sunday 9 September

0545 Dawn ceremony at Whangara (no photography or filming)

0900 Official powhiri at Te Poho o Rawiri

1200 Exhibition open to media for viewing

1245 Media photography/filming with VIPs

1300 Media interviews with VIPs

1700 Official Opening at Rose Gardens

1800 Ribbon cutting

ENDS

BEIJING OLYMPIC SCULPTURE EXHIBITION IN GISBORNE

KEY FACTS

Why Gisborne?

- Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sun rise

- The exhibition is sited beside the confluence of three rivers. Both very good feng shui.

- City has strong links with Chinese community. Its Sister Port is Rizhao.

What else about Gisborne?

Gisborne:

- is the first city in the southern hemisphere to host this exhibition

- is where Maori and European first greeted each other in 1769

- has the only Maori-speaking Chinese mayor in the world, Mayor Meng Foon.

The exhibition:

- has 110 sculptures made of bronze, copper and stainless steel. These were chosen from 2433 entries to a landscape sculpture competition from international artists representing 90 countries.

- has sculptures ranging up to 1.7m and 200kg

- has wide-ranging designs most of which highlight themes of international unity, dream realisation (in line with the Games' One World, One Dream slogan) and the prospects of Beijing 2008

- has been displayed in a koru pattern within the Rose Garden reserve next to the Taruheru River

- will remain outside for nearly three weeks in Gisborne

- is sited near the confluence of Gisborne’s three rivers, the Taruheru, Waimata and Turanganui

- is possibly the most extensive sculptural exhibition to come to New Zealand possibly Australasia

- will be open free to the public from 10am until 7pm each day

- will have artists from Toihoukura working alongside the space each day

- has visited Seoul, Los Angeles, Lausanne and Rome and cities within China as an ambassador for the Olympics.

Numbers

29 symbolises Beijing as the 29th Olympiad. The most popular 29 pieces will be decided by public vote and then will be displayed around the Beijing Olympic competition venues from August 2008

80 number of flags around Gisborne city and outlying townships

110 symbolises the 110 years of the modern Olympics

210 metres security fencing around the exhibition

500 concrete pavers on which to stand the sculptures

100 million people have viewed the sculptures and voting on favorite sculptures. These votes along with a committee of art review experts will determine the 29 best pieces which will be awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals.

People involved

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon

Instrumental in exhibition coming to Gisborne. Went to see exhibition first-hand in Beijing.

Mr Wen Zou

Secretary General of the 2008 (Beijing Organising Committee for the 29th Olympic Games)

Ms Shien Joe

Exhibition project director for Australasia, official representative for BOCOG. Approached Meng Foon with idea of exhibition coming to Gisborne.

Nick Tupara

Gisborne exhibition curator, artist and Gisborne District Council Maori liaison officer

Susie Simcock

NZ Olympic Committee board director

Jolene Douglas

Artist and Tairawhiti Museum curator

Simon Lardelli

Artist and Toihoukura tutor

OPENING EVENTS – 9 September

Dawn ceremony at Whangara, hosted by Ngati Konohi

Powhiri at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae, hosted by Ngati Oneone

Opening Ceremony, Rose Garden reserve beside Taruheru River

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