Art in your city’s living room

A shipping container was hoisted up from beneath the water at Princes Wharf yesterday – the first item on this year’s eight-day Living Room art programme.

Once on the wharf and drained of its salty contents, the container was opened to reveal the photo-realistic portraits lining its inner walls to dozens of onlookers.

This is the work of Seoul artist Cho Duck Hyun, which intends to reflect individual history and migration patterns.

Living Room is a free annual programme organised by the Auckland City Council.

Deputy chairperson of the arts, culture and recreation committee Toni Millar says the programme brings art to everyday Aucklanders and shows “that art is not only for the elite”.

Living Room 09 welcomes a mix of international and local artists to the streets of the CBD to explore the theme My home is where my heart is.

Through performance-based art, the artists will delve into the concepts of belonging, migration and identity.

Millar says people will be confronted by the street-based performances as they go about their daily routines, challening them to think about what they are seeing, she says.

Living Room is about “broadening and enlivening peoples’ lives”, she says.

“Auckland City Council is always looking to how it can make the city a more enjoyable and vibrant place.

“This is just another aspect of this,” says Millar.

AUT student Louisa Jones says Living Room is something different from your average art gallery exhibition.

“It appeals to me more than just going to see a static painting. I want to feel, hear and smell art, not just see it,” she says.

Living Room 09 will run until April 26.

Further details about the performances. along with a timetable. can be found on the Auckland city website.