Cardboard creation to tower above Arts Centre

A cardboard colossus will rise above the rooftops of the Arts Centre this weekend, as a world-renowned French artist creates a cardboard box tribute to Christchurch.

Olivier Grossetête, his team and members of the public will create a sky-high tower from just cardboard boxes and tape at the Arts Centre’s Market Square in just one day this Saturday, before ceremoniously toppling the tower on Sunday. 

Ephermeral City: the cardboard creation that will be constructed in Market Square at the Arts Centre in just seven hours on Saturday.

Ephemeral City, part of the Christchurch Arts Festival, sees groups of school children and members of the public building cardboard boxes at the Arts Centre all week, before the artist, his team and any willing volunteers create the mega box structure in just seven hours this weekend. 

Arts Festival director Craig Cooper said it was the first time Grossetête had come to Christchurch and residents were in for something special. 

“He’s travelled around the world doing this, and always creates something unique to the city that he’s in. We asked him to create something neo-gothic and this is the concept he has come up with. We love it.

“What makes this so special is that this is a collaboration with the community. We’ve got school groups down here every morning this week building boxes, and we’re open every afternoon this week for any member of the public to come in and build some boxes ready for the construction. It’s just such a wonderful collaboration.”

More than 1300 boxes of different shapes and sizes need to be taped together before the build begins.

The building will be constructed throughout the day on Saturday by Grossetête and any member of the public keen to join in. It will remain standing for the night before being “deconstructed” on Sunday in a community event. 

“That part involves the kids in the crowd trampling on the boxes to really pack them down!”