Ryan Ballinger: Road Runner

Media Release

July 13, 2014

In 1982 professional runner Paul Ballinger broke New Zealand’s marathon record, winning at Fukuoka, Japan in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 15 seconds.

Now, more than 30 years later, his 24-year-old son Ryan Ballinger is following in his father’s swift footsteps, sculpting his body into the form of an elite athlete.

But the result of Ryan’s training, under Olympic bronze medallist Barry Magee, is where the similarity between the pursuits of father and son ends.

Ryan is an artist, using his body as his material, in the same way a sculptor might use clay.

At 3pm on August 23 , he will perform Trust Exercise #1 in Auckland as part of his solo show, Road Runner. The performance will be the first at Titirangi public art gallery Lopdell House since the space’s redevelopment.

Running from the gallery’s temporary site in New Lynn to the Titirangi space, Ryan will explore the relationship of trust between artist and curator.

Not knowing the route between the two galleries, the artist will rely on curator Kenny Willis to lead him from A to B using a walkie-talkie.

As the title Trust Exercise #1 suggests, the artist will put his trust in the project curator, who will have complete control over the duration and route Ryan takes to reach the finish line.

Guests at Lopdell House are invited to witness the runner’s progress via a live feed.

Ends.

More info: www.ryanballinger.com / www.lopdell.org.nz

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