“Waterway” Trompe L’Oeil artwork opens

27 October, 2011

“Waterway” Trompe L’Oeil artwork opens

International trompe l’oeil artist John Pugh will unveil his latest work, “Waterway”, to open the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular in Taranaki.

The trompe l’oeil artwork (meaning trick of the eye) measures approximately 18 metres long by four metres high and has been created on a wall in the inner city Huatoki Plaza. The photo real artwork creates the illusion of a garden plaza within the existing Huatoki Plaza and is already proving a hit with the locals, says the artist.

“I’ve created trompe l’oeil all around the world over the last 30 years and I have never had so much positive public feedback as I am creating this work,” says John who is based in California.

With the optimal viewing distance being about 10 metres from the work, a vivid, pink flowering Rhododendron tree in the foreground seems to be part of both plazas. A winding pathway meanders past streams and ponds that link to the actual Huatoki stream running directly beneath the work.

In the background a tiled mural of a southern aspect of Mt. Taranaki is framed by a red-leafed maple in the mid-ground and completes the illusion of a pathway into another plaza from the existing plaza.

“This mural has really taken on a life of its own with more scope and detail than the original concept,” reveals John. “I hope it will be thought provoking for locals and visitors.”

Many months in the design and painting, John was assisted in the work by Rotorua artist, Mark Spijkerbosch. Created using colourfast paints and protected by an acrylic overlay, the mural should maintain its vibrant colours for many years to come, says the Spectacular’s manager, Lisa Haskell.

“As the latest work of international landscape design projects we have commissioned, Waterway will be a fantastic addition to the public artworks featuring around our region for the enjoyment of our community,” says Lisa.

Funded by the TSB Community Trust, Waterway will be officially unveiled at 5.30pm on Thursday, October 27 to open the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular which runs from Friday October 28 to Sunday, November 6.

The Spectacular, (formerly the Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival), features nearly 50 of New Zealand’s most stunning garden environments spread right around Taranaki including gardens of Significance, National Significance and International Significance as rated by the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

Managed by the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust, the Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular is now in its 24th year, and features a diverse range of public and private gardens including rose, inner city potager gardens, native flora gardens, historic and park-like gardens, English cottage and country gardens and those with an art and sculpture focus. Building on the excitement this year, there are six new gardens all adding their own unique dimension to the festival line up.

The Spectacular will also feature a comprehensive events programme including the popular music & wine in gardens events, guided walks, garden workshops and celebrated international as well as local guest speakers.

Internationally renowned floral artist and demonstrator Heather Hammond will be bringing her show “A Floral Field of Dreams” to the stage of the TSB Showplace combining floral design, lighting and music into a spectacle not to be missed.

The festival also welcomes UK-based gardening guru Neil Ross who returns to bring a wheelbarrow full of inspirational new ideas, anecdotes and trends he has picked up from his visits to the finest of the United Kingdom’s cutting edge garden shows such as Chelsea and Hampton Court.

Meanwhile, among the local line up are talks from garden managers from Pukeiti, Tupare and Hollards, as well as Rhododendron expert Erica Jago. Jenny Oakley will be running two workshops on creating stunning hanging baskets and local landscape designer Tristan Cave will be inspiring visitors with his event on designing and planting a small courtyard.

New Zealand’s Premier Spring Festival is not to be missed!

For more information or a free programme go to www.gardenfestnz.co.nz.

ENDS

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