Jonathan Organ + Jessica Pearless - Blind for Sculpture in the Gardens

Established in 2007, Sculpture in the Gardens aims to be accessible by bringing art and sculpture to everyone. The exhibition is free to the public with over 400,000 visitors enjoying the experience in previous years. Our work was selected as one of 20 sculptures in the tightly curated exhibition from a pool of over 70 applications from throughout New Zealand.

'Blind' is the largest scale sculpture undertaken by us to date at 3.6m cubic metres. The language of Abstraction in architecture and art informed the conceptual development of 'Blind'. Calling on traditional utilitarian structures made for observation, shelter and protection, the sculpture offers a homage to a refined vision. The viewer becomes aware of the environment, their position relative to the artwork and the landscape. The potential interaction between the viewer and the sculpture as an observation point of land, water, sky, wildlife, flora, fauna and the viewer is brought to the fore. The unique location of the Auckland Botanic Gardens informed the work, associations are made to observation huts or maimai shelters built in the landscape by man to camouflage when observing nature.

Working collaboratively for over a decade, we have participated in numerous reputable sculptural exhibitions throughout Australasia including headland Sculpture in the Gulf, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi and NZ Sculpture on Shore.

We are committed to creating a significant work of art for Sculpture in the Gardens, to create a new experience for the viewer to enjoy and contemplate art and sculpture within the environment of the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

The undertaking of such a large scale sculpture requires a considerable amount of resource, in terms of materials, effort and energy.

Strict engineering requirements mean that the sculpture will be composed of a significant amount of architectural material. This includes extensive foundations, bracing, timber, support beams, fastenings in order to meet the high safety standards required for the public exhibition.

Your donation through Boosted will go directly into the acquisition of these materials contributing to not just the nuts and bolts but the overall makeup of a truly unique work of art.

For further information on the exhibition and artists please visit: 

www.sculptureinthegardens.nz
www.jonathanorgan.blogspot.co.nz
www.jessicapearless.co.nz