Won't You Join Me in the Shower?

"Endeavour" Tatzu Oozu. Christchurch. Oct 2008. Ajr

I never thought I’d see the day when I would be party to Captain James Cook’s bathing practices but thanks to the wonderful wit of Japanese artist, Tatzu Oozu, I now have a far more intimate appreciation of one of Christchurch’s favourite statues. “Endeavour” is Oozu’s work for Scape 2008 and I love it. It may have taken forever to materialise but it was worth the wait. I think it’s the pick of the Scape bunch. Oozu has won me over with the unexpected – a small ‘house’ constructed around the James Cook statue - just a small lounge and a bathroom. You climb the stairs, enter the lounge, peer out the window into the tulip garden and then, the bathroom - and the surprise of discovering Captain Cook in the bath/shower….standing there in all his freshly-scrubbed-down marble glory beside a toilet. Oozu clearly has a black sense of humour and I think it’s marvellous. He’s done this sort of thing before in other parts of the world and if you click here you can see the concept for his next grand scheme – a hotel on top of the Earl Grey monument in Newcastle-on-Tyne in England. For other comments on Scape 2008 works click on Scape Biennial in the label line below.

The Great and Unpredictable Art Search

"Who Watches the Watchmen?" Ron Terada, Canada. Sept. 2008.Ajr

As my headline for this post might suggest, I think SCAPE 2008 should rename itself!!!

I'm all for the notion that art should play with our perceptions and expectations, that it should not necessarily be 'handed to us' in a predictable gallery location. I actually LIKE contemporary art that makes you reassess the boundaries of what is and what can be considered art. But if I don't find anything at the end of the hunt - or if what I do find seems sloppy, poorly realised and a little too lean on content, I quickly lose interest. That's been happening a bit too often at this year's Scape Biennial. Yesterday was a case in point - it took me forever to find Ron Terada's "Who Watches the Watchmen" and when I finally glimpsed it I was disappointed (I liked his city version better). Maybe that's because I - and other visitors from Wellington - hadn't been able to find the other Lyttelton work at all. Factor in the mysterious 'non-work' in Cathedral Square and the still unfinished Victoria Square work by Japanese artist Tatzu Oozu (which I have been looking forward to most and have now visited six times in the hope of a final product) and I don't think I'm being picky about my frustrations. I at least live in Christchurch and can revisit the sites to check on progress...but what about out-of-town visitors who came to Christchurch specifically to see the biennial. Is it any wonder some have gone away mumbling unkind things? Click on Scape Biennial in the label line below to see other Scape postings. www.scapebiennial.org.nz