Gardens artwork steps into permanent home

A staircase sculpture that climbs elegantly out of a lake has been granted a long-term home in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Diminish and Ascend has been in the Information Centre Lake at the Gardens since it was installed temporarily as part of the SCAPE Public Art Season in 2016.

The Diminish and Ascend artwork has been given a permanent home in the Botanic Gardens

Today Christchurch City Council has agreed to make the artwork by Auckland artist David McCracken a permanent feature.

Councillor and Social, Community Development and Housing Committee Chair Phil Clearwater says residents have a lot of affection for the sculpture and it fits perfectly with its surroundings.

“It’s a very peaceful, reflective artwork and it works in harmony with its beautiful location. We think most people would like it to remain in the lake permanently to be enjoyed by Botanic Gardens visitors.”

The purchase and installation of the artwork will be funded through sponsorship, a Christchurch City Council Art in Public Places Fund grant and a Friends of the Botanic Gardens grant.

The perspective illusion, which is made from aluminium and sits on a concrete plinth, will need a new foundation in the lake when it is made a permanent feature and this will be funded through SCAPE Public Art from sponsorships and donations including a public appeal campaign. 

The work has a value of $192,000 including installation.

SCAPE will obtain the consents and approvals needed for the sculpture to become permanent. SCAPE Executive Director Deborah McCormick says David McCracken's Diminish and Ascend has a "little bit of magic about it". "You get this playful theatre of ducks landing on it and walking up and down. It's a nice contemplative piece in a beautiful place and it's probably the most photographed artwork in the city."

At a meeting earlier this month Social, Community Development and Housing Committee recommended the Council approve the artwork being permanently installed.

Support for the decision came from the Public Arts Advisory Group, Friends of the Botanic Gardens and the Matapopore Trust.  

• The Council has also agreed to grant a 'temporary licence to occupy' that will allow Neil Dawson's The Spire sculpture to continue hanging above Latimer Square until the end of 2019.  It was installed in 2013.