SCAPE Public Art Christchurch Biennial
2 October 2015 - Solidarity Grid Media Release La Rochelle
Street Lamp Brings French touch to Solidarity
Grid, Park Terrace
A Gallic street lamp from La Rochelle, France has been installed along Park Terrace as
part of Mischa Kuball’s progressive art project Solidarity Grid.
The sleek silver lamp donated by the French city of La Rochelle as a gesture of solidarity
during Christchurch’s recovery and rebuild process is a physical representation of
France’s support for Christchurch during this time of rebuild.
A dedication ceremony for Solidarity Grid will take place during the Opening Weekend of
the SCAPE 8 Public Art Christchurch Biennial on Saturday 3 October at 4pm on the
Armagh Street Bridge, at the Park Terrace end of Armagh Street. It is a free event open to
the community and Germany-based artist Mischa Kuball will also be in attendance to
discuss and celebrate his work.
“Mischa Kuball’s Solidarity Grid is a special body of work” says SCAPE Public Art Director,
Deborah McCormick. “It is great to see the collection of street lamps building along Park
Terrace, and interesting to note the unique perspective each donor city takes through the
lamp they kindly provide. Some are very elaborate, such as Wuhan, China’s custommade lamp, others like La Rochelle are more subtle and reflective of daily life in their
city.”
Cultural counsellor at the French Embassy, Mr Raynald Belay said “the Embassy of
France and the city of La Rochelle are delighted to be taking part in Solidarity Grid,
developing the ties between La Rochelle and Christchurch. Links between the two
regions are longstanding with of course the notable arrival in Akaroa during the midnineteenth century of the French from Charente-Maritime, the region in which La
Rochelle is located. This project is an enlightened gesture of solidarity and for the people
of France, it is a demonstration of our desire to positively impact on and be present in
the rebuild of Christchurch.”
SCAPE Public Art and the Embassy of France in New Zealand together approached La
Rochelle city council to be involved in the project. The two cities are now united through
the positive symbolism of light, strengthening ties between New Zealand and France.
The La Rochelle street lamp will join those already installed - from our sister cities of
Adelaide, Australia; Kurashiki, Japan; Wuhan, China; Songpa, Korea; Christchurch,
Dorset, United Kingdom; Gansu, China; as well as Düsseldorf, Germany; Sydney,
Australia; Belgrade, Serbia; Sendai, Japan; Montreal, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico; Graz,
Austria; Ieper, Belgium; and Singapore.
La Rochelle is a seaport city on the Atlantic coast of France. The Renaissance
architecture, secret passageways and stone gargoyles bear witness to the city’s heritage
as a fishing and trade stronghold since the 12th century. The picturesque Vieux Port (old
SCAPE Public Art Christchurch Biennial
2 October 2015 - Solidarity Grid Media Release La Rochelle
port) contrasts with modern marina, Les Minimes, where over 3,500 yachts are moored
in the tepid waters.
About Solidarity grid
Mischa Kuball’s Solidarity Grid is a legacy art project commissioned by the Christchurch
City Council’s Public Art Advisory Group and produced by SCAPE Public Art over a period
of three years, which began during the SCAPE 7 Public Art Christchurch Biennial in 2013.
Solidarity Grid is based on the act of giving and the positive symbolism of light. The
project will bring a single streetlamp from each of 21 cities around the world to
Christchurch, by the end of 2015.
Reflective of its donor city, each lamp has a very different look which makes an exciting,
explorative trail along Park Terrace for cyclists and pedestrians. The lamps are donated
by cities as a gesture of solidarity during Christchurch’s recovery and rebuild process.
The SCAPE 8 Public Art Christchurch Biennial entitled New Intimacies is a Public Art
Walkway to help people create new memories and re-connect with the changed
Christchurch landscape. Curated by Rob Garrett, it will take place between 3 October
and 15 November 2015. www.scapepublicart.org.nz/scape-8/
ENDS
Artist Mischa Kuball will be in Christchurch from Germany and available for interview
between 3 – 6 October 2015.
SCAPE Public Art Christchurch Biennial
2 October 2015 - Solidarity Grid Media Release La Rochelle
For media comment, interviews and high-resolution imagery, please contact:
Deborah McCormick, Director, SCAPE Public Art
Tel: +64 (0)3 365 7990, Mobile: +64 (0)27 280 9557
Email: [email protected]
Carolyne Grant, Marketing and Communications Manager, SCAPE Public Art
Tel: +64 (0)3 365 7995, Mobile: +64 (0)21 660 715
Email: [email protected]
Genevieve Gibson, Deputy Press Attaché, Embassy of France in New Zealand
Tel: 64 (0)4 802 7783
Email: [email protected]
Generously supported by:
SCAPE Public Art Christchurch Biennial
2 October 2015 - Solidarity Grid Media Release La Rochelle
Mischa Kuball, Solidarity Grid, 2013 – La Rochelle street lamp in situ Park Terrace, Christchurch.