Situated between Kirikiriroa central city and the Hamilton Gardens, and linked by Te Awa River Ride, the Hayes Paddock Reserve is a space that both connects and punctuates this well-travelled route. A key community site, it is cherished for swimming at Wellington Street Beach, one of the most visited inland beaches in Aotearoa, as well as its playground and the grove of well-established chestnut trees.
Curatorial Statement
Rock, by internationally renowned Aotearoa artist Francis Upritchard, carries the distinctive texture of balata rubber, the material in which it was originally hand-moulded. Now cast in bronze, the work preserves the texture and detail of its original form, grounding these figures in permanence. Long Arms piggybacks on Long Legs, their spindly limbs confusingly entwined. These human-ish figures are abstracted through their stretched limbs and barely formed faces, with
details concentrated in their hands and feet, emphasising their action.
The work references the Japanese folk tale of Ashinaga, who has exceptionally long legs, and Tenaga, who has long arms. As a pair of yōkai (supernatural beings),
they must collaborate to achieve even simple tasks, here imagined as building a rock pile. Often seen when fishing, the figures now rest within earshot of the powerful, meandering Waikato Awa.
Inviting curiosity, touch, and imagination, Rock is a work for everyone, welcoming park visitors and offering a moment of wonder to those travelling along the river path.
Mesh would like to thank the following for making major contributions to this project
Funders
Principal ($50,000 plus)
- Dallas Fisher & Helen Gleeson
Platinum ($25,000 plus)
- The Davies Family
Titanium ($10,000 plus)
- Holly & George Anderson
Gold ($5000.00 plus)
- Pip & Richard Willoughby
- The Hugo Charitable Trust
- Roger Evans
- Margaret Fairhurst & Sue Collinge
- Jenny & Michael Holmes
- David Lloyd
- Jan Gilby
- Alison & Mark Ewing
- Linda & Marius Rademaker
- Johanna & Alan Park
- Karen & Chris O’Meeghan
- Sarah Morton-Johnson & Andrew Johnson
- Lorraine & Alan Isaac
Silver ($2500.00 plus)
- Sue & Jon Tanner
- Nancy Caiger
- Jill Bindon & Bruce Sheridan
- Harpal Singh
- Garth O’Brien
- Andrea & Alistair du Chatenier
Bronze ( $1000.00 plus)
- David Edson
- Pat Patterson
- Glenda & Mark Hatwell
- Pam & Les Roa
- Catherine & Barry Smith
- Glennis du Chatenier
- Susan & Aksel Bech
- Helen & David Nielsen
- Therese & Jason Cargo
- Tim Melville & Tony Sly
Friends ( Up to $1000.00)
- Zack Mack
- Matt Gifford
- Sha & Mark Eman
- Jonathon Wolf-Philips
Support Partners
Service Providers
Strategic Partner
