Area’s history rendered in art
Unique artworks telling the story of the Parklands area before European settlement, form a stunning backdrop for the library’s varied collections and activities. Christchurch artist Bing Dawe has teamed up with local carpet specialist Dilana Rugs to create a huge river of eels under the feet of library visitors, stretching towards a striking sculpture in the form of a large hoop with three eels on its top edge. Both the carpet and sculpture evoke the wetlands which existed across the Parklands area, teeming with wildlife including native birds, fish and eels. Nearby Travis Wetland is one of the few reminders of what the area once looked like.
Complementing Dawe’s work is the Whariki Matariki, a magnificent eightmetre flax weaving swimming overhead in the shape of an eel as you enter the library. The whariki was created by customers of eight Christchurch libraries over four weeks, added to at each library before being presented to Parklands Library for the people of the area.
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