Public Art in Central Christchurch

Tile Medallions

Category: Sculpture Title: Tile Medallions Primary artist(s): Bing Dawe Execution date: 1987 Media: Brick tiles and glaze Approximate dimensions: 2m in diameter (x3) Location: South Power building, Manchester Street Setting: Set into the pavement in front of the display windows outside the entrance the building Owner / administrator: Southpower, Christchurch City Council

Since the Stewart fountain was erected in 1971 there was a lack of public art commissioned in Christchurch. This changed when the Christchurch City Council advertised for interested artists. As part of the council policy of providing public art in public spaces a percentage of the Muncipal Electricity Department building's cost went towards public art that would embellish the complex.

Bing Dawe was chosen from a prominent line up of artists to produce a work for the MED building. Dawe proposed an understated art work that was two dimensional and at foot level. This was a conscious effort to sooth Christchurch's conservatism and avoid the controversy that had occurred over previous public works. Dawe's proposal consisted of three tile medallions 2m in diameter made up of red/terracotta tiles with the pattern glazed on in a dark black/grey. The three medallions were set flush into the pavement outside the entrance to the building.

The theme of the work is cycles of electricity generation, the energy flows are identifiable by arrows showing movement. Amongst the iconography is a hair drier, and a Maori wind kite. There are mountains and rivers, hydro generated energy, and energy cycles. The energy concept relates directly to the function of the building -Southpower's creation of energy and its supply of energy to consumers.

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