Seaside art helps Christchurch’s New Brighton bounce back

A new seaside basketball court abstract work melds art and sport in New Brighton.

Nathan Ingram’s dramatic artwork, FORCES, energises the surface of the basketball half court – complete with hoop and backboard – south of the pier.

The geometric designs and bold colours represent the Māori concept of “forces of nature” that define the unique character of New Brighton – the dunes, the wind and the place where the sea meets the sky.

A new seaside basketball court artwork titled FORCES and a mural, Low Pressure High Pressure, have been installed in New Brighton.

Ingram and fellow local artist Josh O’Rourke have recently installed their work after winning the SCAPE Public Art Re:ACTIVATE 2018: New Brighton competition for emerging artists.

Ingram’s work has completed the visual revamp of the seaside space.

O’Rourke’s striking mural, Low Pressure High Pressure, covers the ramp wall overlooking the court.

His seaside canvas has been influenced by the repeating patterns of topographic weather maps.

People can meet both artists and try out the new-look court from 4.30pm today.

SCAPE Public Art Executive Director Deborah McCormick says the artworks look even better than first imagined following the initial selection.

“I hope that playing basketball on an energising piece of art like this will be an immersive experience,” she says.

Ms McCormick also hopes that the colourful artworks will inspire more people to use the space, and encourage emerging artists to “follow their dreams and to prove that achieving things on a grand scale is possible”.

The competition was organised by SCAPE Public Art in conjunction with Development Christchurch Limited as part of an initiative to regenerate areas in New Brighton.

SCAPE Public Art plans to run the competition again, with details to be provided on the SCAPE website in the coming months.