Sliver of sculpture

A small group of art enthusiasts gathered at the corner of Khyber Pass Road and Broadway yesterday afternoon to witness the unveiling of Virginia King’s sculpture Sliver. The sculpture’s installation was made possible by the Newmarket Arts Trust and Newmarket Business Association, ASB Trusts and Tramco Group. David Haigh, Chair of the Newmarket Arts Trust, warmly welcomed everyone, thanking all the sponsors and trustees for working together to achieve their goal. Dame Catherine Tizard then unveiled the striking piece of artwork to a round of applause for Virginia King.

It is fitting that Sliver makes its home in Newmarket, arguably Auckland’s most fashionable district, home to a plethora of upscale boutiques and newly built Magnum Mac store nearby. Dame Catherine Tizard aptly described Newmarket as the go-to destination for shopping in Auckland. She quipped “Queen Street is so sad now!” in comparison to its chic, sophisticated neighbour.

Situated in a prime location, Sliver can be rotated to face different directions despite weighing a hefty 250kg. Through the cut outs in the circular piece, slivers of the background are visible. King notes that it ‘plays with the concept of a lens, focussing outlook and perception’. Made of stainless steel that has been laser cut and hand finished, Sliver is a captivating addition to the freshly renovated landscape.

Despite being called Sliver, the artwork "is extremely robust" says artist Virginia King. "The circular artwork can be viewed as an archetypal symbol of time. The work makes reference to hubs, the wheel, cyclical time, genetic pools and micro organism structures."

"The circular wheel form of Sliver becomes a symbol of the constant traffic that flows through this busy corner, the reflective shiny stainless steel reflecting the movement, light and energy of the metropolitan surrounds. The turning wheel also reference the hub of energy and the coin and the wheel of commerce. The pivoting base allows the work to be moved while providing fragmented glimpses of the urban environment, and changing and varying points of view of the surrounding city", says King.

Sliver is available to be viewed by the public daily where Broadway meets Khyber Pass.

Words and photos by Cecilia Bhuiya, 4 December 2008