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The artist's depiction of how Portal will look once it is installed at Freyberg Pool (image courtesy of Victor Berezovsky).

NEWS RELEASE
18 December 2008

New artwork to celebrate Freyberg Pool façade

Freyberg Pool is about to have a facelift - from February, Wellington artist Victor Berezovsky will be working on a mural, Portal, to adorn the building's façade.

The Council's Arts and Culture Portfolio Leader, Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, is thrilled that an artwork is planned to brighten up the building.

"This mural will be a great way to get passers by to have another look at the building's design and architectural features - features that are synonymous with the Modern Movement of the 1960s," says Cr Ahipene-Mercer.

"Victor has created an especially clever design - it pays homage to the decade that the building was built in and also highlights one of the building's most unique features - the portal windows."

Victor initially approached the pool with his idea for the building, and was then referred to the City Council's Public Art Panel, who accepted the proposal.

Victor says the artwork, comprising of red, blue and ochre geometric shapes, draws on the simplicity of the building's design.

"It also reflects the activities taking place within the pool with the linked geometric shapes suggesting swimming lanes, swimmers and synchronised swimmers," he says.

The work will adorn the building for approximately five years.

Victor graduated from Cantebury University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in painting.

This isn't the first piece of public art that he has made for the city. Just over a year ago - his last project, Junction, decorated the rooftop of Toi Pōneke Arts Centre as part of the Public Art Panel's Stack Project series.

Other works by Victor can be seen in various public spaces at Dresden and Seiffen, Germany. For more information, or to see images of this work, go to www.victorberezovsky.co.nz

ENDS

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