Latest news with #GregorKregar
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jurassic snark: New Zealand dinosaur sculpture fuels debate
Some have called it an "eyesaur". Many more have described it as "fabulous". But one word Boom Boom, a seven-metre tall stainless steel dinosaur sculpture in New Zealand, could never be associated with is "boring". Just days after the sauropod statue was installed in Taupō Sculpture Park, in the scenic centre of New Zealand's North Island, Boom Boom has already prompted heated debate among locals. The artist - and the team that commissioned it - say that's exactly the point. The mirror-finish sculpture was commissioned by the Taupō Sculpture Trust and created by Slovenian-born artist Gregor Kregar. Kregar said that he wasn't "particularly surprised" by the furore that quickly surrounded his work. "Sculpture sometimes stops people from their everyday interactions with the world," he told the BBC from his home in Auckland. "It's really hard to hate a sculpture of a dinosaur." Still, public opinion on Boom Boom is split. "Fantastic! Getting people talking about art. Broadening the conversation," said one commenter on a social media post announcing Boom Boom's arrival. But another wrote: "Public investment of $100,000 from the local ratepayers, many of who would have rather seen the money spent elsewhere in the community." Funding for Boom Boom was finalised in 2018, before recent hikes in Taupō District Council's rate which is similar to a council tax. After several years of negotiations, the work was completed and installed in the park last week. Others still criticised the work as having no connection with Taupō, named New Zealand's most beautiful town in the 2023 Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards. But Kregar said the rock that the dinosaur stands on is inspired by the volcanic history of the area. Lake Taupō, from which the town takes its name, is a large caldera, a volcano that has collapsed in on itself. It last erupted around 1,800 years ago. Sauropods, the inspiration for Boom Boom, are one of a few species of dinosaurs that paleontologists say lived in New Zealand. They became extinct 66 million years ago, along with most other non-avian dinosaurs. Kregar says the spirited debate around the sculpture means Boom Boom could eventually win round "the haters". "You put the sculpture out there, there is reaction, people start falling in love with it, and then it becomes something that they start embracing, part of the local identity," he said. Kim Gillies, secretary of the Taupō Sculpture Trust, told the BBC that the decision to commission Boom Boom was not taken "lightly", but that it was chosen because "it would help put Taupō on the map". Gillies added that when it comes to the art, "safe is a bit boring, right?" No bones about it.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Taupō: New Zealand dinosaur sculpture Boom Boom fuels debate
Some have called it an "eyesaur". Many more have described it as "fabulous".But one word Boom Boom, a seven-metre tall stainless steel dinosaur sculpture in New Zealand, could never be associated with is "boring".Just days after the sauropod statue was installed in Taupō Sculpture Park, in the scenic centre of New Zealand's North Island, Boom Boom has already prompted heated debate among artist - and the team that commissioned it - say that's exactly the point. The mirror-finish sculpture was commissioned by the Taupō Sculpture Trust and created by Slovenian-born artist Gregor said that he wasn't "particularly surprised" by the furore that quickly surrounded his work."Sculpture sometimes stops people from their everyday interactions with the world," he told the BBC from his home in Auckland. "It's really hard to hate a sculpture of a dinosaur."Still, public opinion on Boom Boom is split."Fantastic! Getting people talking about art. Broadening the conversation," said one commenter on a social media post announcing Boom Boom's another wrote: "Public investment of $100,000 from the local ratepayers, many of who would have rather seen the money spent elsewhere in the community."Funding for Boom Boom was finalised in 2018, before recent hikes in Taupō District Council's rate which is similar to a council several years of negotiations, the work was completed and installed in the park last still criticised the work as having no connection with Taupō, named New Zealand's most beautiful town in the 2023 Keep New Zealand Beautiful Kregar said the rock that the dinosaur stands on is inspired by the volcanic history of the area. Lake Taupō, from which the town takes its name, is a large caldera, a volcano that has collapsed in on itself. It last erupted around 1,800 years the inspiration for Boom Boom, are one of a few species of dinosaurs that paleontologists say lived in New Zealand. They became extinct 66 million years ago, along with most other non-avian says the spirited debate around the sculpture means Boom Boom could eventually win round "the haters"."You put the sculpture out there, there is reaction, people start falling in love with it, and then it becomes something that they start embracing, part of the local identity," he Gillies, secretary of the Taupō Sculpture Trust, told the BBC that the decision to commission Boom Boom was not taken "lightly", but that it was chosen because "it would help put Taupō on the map".Gillies added that when it comes to the art, "safe is a bit boring, right?"No bones about it.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Jurassic-sized fuss over Taupō's new dinosaur sculpture
Artist Gregor Kregar says the large rock in his sculpture relates to the giant boulders ejected by the volcanic force of Taupō's historic eruptions. The mirror-polished stainless steel Sauropod dinosaur is based on an inflatable toy and represents the town's playful 'holiday destination' aspect. Photo: Destination Great Lake Taupō / A nearly 10m-tall dinosaur sculpture sitting atop a large geometric rock is the latest attraction in Taupō, but not without controversy. The Taupō District Council contributed a one-off $100,000 grant towards the sculpture, which was made by the Taupō Sculpture Trust. But the grant has angered some residents, who are facing a rates increase of more than 8 percent. Taupō Mayor David Trewavas told Morning Report artwork always has the capacity to cause controversy. "We had sort of a dozen well-meaning artists and business people [who] came to us probably 15 years ago to say, 'Hey, let's put a bit of colour into the town, but we'll go away and raise half the money, and would you guys contribute?'" Trewavas acknowledged locals were facing a large rates rise, but the Taupō District Council committed to the project a number of years ago, and he hoped it would bring more people into town. Trewavas said he had already heard of people keen to visit Taupō to see the new sculpture. "A family has just rung from Masterton telling me they are coming up this weekend to have a look at it." Taupō had a reputation as a place that holds sporting events, with the Ironman and Supercars, and Trewavas said it was time to support the arts community too. "The poor old arts community, they haven't had much over the years to be fair, and this is our way of demonstrating to them that we support those guys as well. We are all about community partnerships and people getting involved." And as for the sculpture itself, Trewavas said it had "grown on him", and he shared the reasoning behind a dinosaur. "[Dinosaurs] used to roam around here. They were in the Mohaka River out on the Napier-Taupō Road." But ultimately, it was the artists who selected what to install in the town. "If there's one thing for sure, I'm not going to get the councillors to select the artwork." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Taupō Goes Boom Boom - An Explosion Of Sculpture
new major public artwork to be unveiled in Taupō on 16 May Boom Boom is by renowned NZ artist Gregor Kregar 13th artwork commissioned for Taupō's emerging sculpture trail artist says this work celebrates Taupō' as 'a playful holiday' destination Calling all kids, big kids and art lovers… A three-metre stainless steel dinosaur is stealing attention inside Taupō's sculpture park. The long-necked creature, who sits atop an even taller geometric rock made from cor-ten steel, is the latest in a series of public artworks designed to enliven the town. A sculpture trail begins on the lakefront, near Rifle Range Road, and zigzags along the water, through downtown Taupō, to the dinosaur's Riverside Park home. Renowned Kiwi sculptor Gregor Kregar's work, Boom Boom, is the latest piece commissioned by Taupō Sculpture Trust. Trustee and local glass artist Christine Robb says the organisation hopes to add another 20 artworks to the park over the next decade. 'We already have a dozen pieces around town and Boom Boom is lucky number 13,' Christine says. 'But, since this is the first piece to go into the dedicated sculpture park, we didn't want it to hide in the background and just be something pretty. We wanted it to create a buzz in Taupō. And I think that's happening.' Riverside Park runs down to the Waikato River and its natural amphitheatre overlooks the marina. 'There's already a lovely walkway down there and we already have a beautiful Phil Price sculpture nearby that's called Flip and moves with the wind. Within the next year, we expect to have two more in the park.' Christine says the trust has an ongoing mission to enhance Taupō's natural beauty and cultural richness with public art. 'We know it attracts visitors and locals, gives them a reason to walk around the town. It can be educational and it adds to our cultural grit. Whenever I visit another city anywhere in the world, the first thing I do is go and find the public art. It's art with no barriers. You don't need to visit a gallery, it's accessible to all.' Destination Great Lake Taupō (DGLT) General Manager Patrick Dault is thrilled to see Taupō celebrated as a fun holiday destination: 'I love Boom Boom's mix of ancient history, serious art and holiday fun. It's absolutely appropriate for Taupō and fits perfectly into our classy new townscape,' Dault says.
