Christchurch Street Art © Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism

Christchurch’s street art: an expression of solidarity

TAP FOR MORE INFO:

This isn’t a couple of cute billboard-type pieces put up in obvious places. This is a thing.

There is even a map which shows where the major outdoor artworks in this city are located. That outdoor art even requires a map gives you a sense of the scale of the city’s street art.

After a string of earthquakes that decimated the central city in 2010–11, that centre needed cheering up. A rebuild is years in the planning: how do you gladden hearts, and fast? With art. People needed cheering up and art is good for the heart and, well, will you look at that.

‘Whero O Te Rangi Bailey’ by @kevinledo 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 . Kevin says “a Maori elder from Parihaka in Taranaki, originally photographed by Stu Robertson @peacein10000hands “ . “It's a great story: Stu and I met the first day I arrived in Christchurch to discuss me using one of his photos from his Peace in 10000 Hands project, to reinterpret into a mural on the @crowneplazachristchurch “ . “Soon after starting the mural, the daughter of the woman I was painting, Maia, reached out to me with the kindest words and appreciation. I then learned more about her mum, and hence am able to share more about her with you! Whero Bailey is no longer with us, but her daughter said she would have been humbled by this dedication to her.” . A huge thanks to @ymca_christchurch @paint_nz @christchurchcc #ratafoundation @resenecolour . 📸 by Kevin Ledo . #whero #maori #portrait #maoriportrait #wahine #wahinetoa #kuia #ril #passedon #1000hands #hands #feather #flower #rose #taamoko #tattoo #taranaki #parihaka #christchurch #streetart #streetartnz #streetartchristchurch #streetprints #streetprintsotautahi #art #mural #nzmural

A post shared by Street Prints NZ/AU (@street_prints) on Mar 2, 2018 at 2:41pm PST

Picasso said every child is an artist (he would, wouldn’t he) and hey, we all get crayons at kindy, but could you execute some of what’s on display?

Some consider ‘street art’ to be a euphemism for tagging or graffiti-based creations and, as you’d expect in any major city, Christchurch has its fair share of that. But the best of its outside art – and some of it is spectacular – is serious, considered work executed to a high and exacting standard.

Official, sanctioned initiatives such as the RISE festival and projects such as From the Ground Up have helped ignite the idea. Its achievement is manifold. Slabs of broken wall and decaying grey concrete have received a drench of colour. Much of the art is, as you’d expect, centred around the ‘rebuild Christchurch’ theme, expressing hope, solidarity, empathy.

There’s plenty of humour, too, some expressed in typography, some of it visual and obvious. A Victorian woman in a gilt frame is astounding. The Māori girl with the silver fern in her hair on Worcester St: arresting. Stencilled, sprayed and painted, it’s all something to behold.

With the addition of street sculpture to the mix, the best way to see it is to take a tour, take it in and marvel at the resilience of the human spirit.

Explore more...

More stories like this

Find out more

Activities

Get outdoors: Christchurch beaches

Christchurch has easy access to a very long stretch of sandy coastline. Read the story . . . 

Find out more

Activities

Loved by the locals: Lyttelton

In Canterbury's harbourside hub of Lyttelton you'll find secluded bays, walking trails with stellar views, quirky shops and excellent options for food and drink. Read the story . . . 

Find out more

Activities

Loved by the locals: Christchurch

The new and improved Christchurch City is filled with attractions to keep you occupied – whether you're into dancing, garden rambles, vintage transport or great food.  Read the story . . . 

Find out more

Get outdoors

Christchurch: a city transforming

How often do you get to see a city in the midst of a complete transformation? Christchurch today is different from the experience of Christchurch last month, next month and certainly six years ago. Read the story . . .