Chair-full installation takes a seat at Art in the City

10 Oct 2022

After two years of white walls and closed doors, Aucklanders are ready to shrug off the last lingering limitations and discover the ever-evolving creativity that's been bubbling away, waiting for the perfect outlet. Enter Art in the City, hosted by Heart of the City. There are over 100 events and activities to explore from 7-16 October 2022, including installations, guided walks, murals and markets. Immerse yourself in workshops, get hands-on or wander through the city with coffee in hand and revel in creativity.

Architecture graduates Jack Wu, Oliver Ray-Chaudhuri, Dian Wang, Calvin Feng, William Chen and Binh Minh Ha, began their concept in a pre-Covid world. As their access to the tools of the trade disappeared, they turned instead to the tools at home. Armed with framing timber and a hammer, they hand-crafted 25 unique chairs and placed them in locations throughout Tāmaki Makaurau. On Thursday, 13 October, the chairs finished in Resene Furniture and Decking Oil will come together on Upper Vulcan Lane.

"These chairs shared the same beginning, then went out on individual adventures", says Jack; "now they reunite as a family of 25 to reminisce and share stories of separate journeys. Bonded by their roots in the process of change and improvisation with limited means, they are the empty seats at the table, quiet beside the Elephant; no more than arranged material artefacts, waiting again to be reborn."

The future of the chairs remains unknown. "Construction framing timber isn't meant to see the light of day", says Jack, so the chairs will be disassembled and used to create something new.

The Chairs in the Room, quiet beside the Elephant (2022)

Location: Upper Vulcan Lane (between Le Chef and Mojo Cafe)

Date: 13 October 2022

Time: 4 PM til late 10 PM

Art in the City | Heart of the City

Published: 10 Oct 2022