Anyone who saw Michael Parekowhai’s Venice installation in Henderson a couple of months back is in for a surprise if they get over to Venice. The centrepiece of the installation He Korero Purakau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu Story of a New Zealand River is now bright red. The black carved Steinway piano was transformed in the brief time between its outing in Henderson and its flight to the Biennale.
The drama of the new colour is a surprise only for New Zealanders who know the work in its previous iteration. For anyone living in Venice the new colour is a slam-dunk. “Red and gold.” said the delighted Venetian owner of the Palazzo Loredan where Parekowhai’s work is installed, “The colours of the Republic.”
You can see more photographs of Parekowhai’s installation here.
