Artists Dan Mills, of Mangawhai, and Phillipa Crofskey, of
Dunedin, smile about their Hoyts Lane handiwork yesterday.
Photo by Craig Baxter.
Hoyts Lane off the Octagon is being transformed into a
sort of time tunnel.
Dunedin's colourful history is being woven into a tapestry
which will be rolled out during the Otago Festival of the
Arts.
Artist Dan Mills, of Mangawhai, said the mural was a blend of
Maori, Scottish, Chinese and Lebanese culture.
"I wanted it to represent Dunedin's history and the fabric of
its society," he said yesterday.
"So, it entwines Scottish tartan, Chinese fabric, Lebanese
embroidery and woven flax. There are a lot of metaphors in
the work. The gold in the fish scales represents the gold
taken from the ground of Otago, while the taniwha is also a
Chinese dragon.
"Everything flows towards the Octagon, through a flax fishing
net."
The mural also features lucky cultural symbols, such as nine
Chinese goldfish, and influential Dunedin forefathers,
including Lebanese businessman Gabriel Farry.
Mills will be working on the mural with the help of local
artists every day this week.
"A lot of people have been coming through and talking to us
about it and it's great that it's getting so much attention
and positive comments. I'm really enjoying doing it and it's
a lot of fun being part of the festival."
Mills also has an exhibition, "Home is Exotic" which is on at
Gallery De Novo during the arts festival.
-nigel.benson@odt.co.nz
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