Milford Reserve’s new work of light OurAuckland story

This award-winning, circular sculpture in polished stainless steel symbolises and reflects the significant historical achievements of the suffrage movement in New Zealand. It also lights the way for women of today, highlighting contemporary themes of gender equality and women’s empowerment.



*Beacon* plays with light, colour and reflections during both day and night. It has a camellia shape at its centre, with a symbolic violet hue – representing the violet colour that was adopted by suffrage petitioners to represent dignity and self-respect. This colour is continued through into the evening, with a gentle violet colour illuminating the sculpture from dusk until 10pm each night.



Standing at 2.5-metres-high and made from large sheets of stainless steel plate immaculately welded together, *Beacon* conveys a message of hope. It also celebrates the legacy of Kate Sheppard: "We are tired of having a 'sphere' doled out to us, and of being told that anything outside that sphere is 'unwomanly'. We want to be natural just for a change … we must be ourselves at all risks." - Kate Sheppard



Judge’s comments at Best Design Awards 2020: “A striking statement with embedded symbolism, prominent in the landscape yet understated as the reflective surface’s blends into the environment. A fantastic example of vision executed through fabrication and craftmanship.”

Beacon

These three curved sheet steel sculptures with detailed and vibrant imagery stand in the Milford Village Square. The colourful images and patterns were screen-printed and painted by artist Jeff Thomson and reference the natural flora, landscape and history of the Milford region. Thomson was inspired by the patterns of the area, the maps, roads, parks, buildings, beach, creek, and lake.

Each side of the three forms is lit up from the pavement at night. The sculptural forms are installed in a line, working like louvres. At a distance they appear more solid as a group of objects, but the viewer gets closer and passes by, the spaces between the sculptural forms widen to present views to the open square.

The artist said, "I am proud to have had the opportunity to create and artwork for this town square. Castor Bay, Milford and the beachfront were where I did so much of my growing up and this made this project special."

Pupuke to the Sea

Overlooking Lake Pupuke in Killarney Park, this work portrays a raised stage or speaking platform, a modern take on the functional soapboxes used by suffragettes in the 1800s to spread messages about the vote for women. With intricate patterns and textured surfaces, the design is inspired by the influential words of suffragette Kate Sheppard, who used persuasive public speaking to help power the suffrage movement.

*Soapbox* was designed by female architects and designers in collaboration with architecture and design firm Jasmax. The group was commissioned by Auckland Council to create the sculpture in celebration of the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in Aotearoa / New Zealand. The sculpture was designed to be enjoyed and to be used; to be observed, stood on or sat upon by the public.



"By creating a raised platform to view the lake, we want people to feel empowered and to take a long view of history, one that encompasses the past and future generations," says architect Prue Fea, one of the artists who designed the work. "We believe that the voices of women and indigenous people are critical in shaping the future of a sustainable world."

Soapbox

Running alongside the Wairau Valley stream on Auckland’s North Shore, *Transitional Line* explores themes of transformation. Artist Elke Finkenhauer invites people to explore the area, and to think about movement as they walk in and around the flowing steel sculpture.

The artwork is made up of two contrasting elements; a silvery line of varying size that subtly makes its way along the concrete paths, connecting up with gentle curves of weathered steel that rise up from the ground. Linking the walking paths with an open public space, the structure forms the centrepiece for the redesign of the Croftfield Lane stormwater pond project, completed in 2016 by Boffa Miskell for Wai Ora-Healthy Waterways.

The Croftfield Lane project focussed on stormwater, as well as creating seating areas and community walkways. The project received an award of excellence in the 2016 NZILA Landscape Architecture Awards.

Lang Ea

Beacon

"This award-winning sculpture plays with light, colour and reflection, while highlighting themes of gender equality and women’s empowerment."

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