Friday 16 July 2004

Media invited to view Christchurch gift to Korea

The 'Kia Ora' sculpture – an artwork being gifted to Songpa Gu, Seoul, Korea by the people of Christchurch - has been completed and will be available for the media and invited guests to view at 11am on Tuesday 20 July at Halswell Quarry.

Created by Christchurch artist, Leah Mary Fraser- Henderson, the sculpture features a face made of stainless steel with a mirror finish, mounted on a large slab of Halswell Quarry stone.

“People (in South Korea) will be able to see themselves in its reflection while we borrow the view of their park in place of our botanic gardens… the average South Korean will be looking eye to eye with it, in a sense looking through our eyes how we see the world,” Mrs Fraser-Henderson said.

The name Kia Ora was chosen as it is a phrase full of friendship and heartfelt thanks, she said.

The artwork was commissioned to celebrate Christchurch’s ongoing friendship and sister city relationship, which was formalised in 1995.

Tuesday’s event is an opportunity for the media and invited guests to view the sculpture before it is shipped to Songpa Gu, where it is to be installed on the western shore of West Seokchon Lake.

Those attending Tuesday’s viewing are asked to meet in the Halswell Quarry Park carpark at 11am. Leah Mary Fraser-Henderson will then lead everyone to the site. It would be wise to wear sensible walking shoes as it is a short steep walk to the sculpture.

ENDS

© Scoop Media