A vibrant hub for art
Street art is a shining example of the resilience and creativity of our Christchurch community in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
Piles of rubble have been transformed into thought-provoking canvases that add vibrancy to our city’s streets.
Here are some to look out for:
Ōtautahi Mural
The Ōtautahi Mural, located in the SALT District is a hand-painted masterpiece created by Paul Walters, a skilled signwriter, who collaborated with renowned street artist Dcypher, for Oi YOU!
Passing Time sculpture
A prominent public artwork, next to the Ara central city campus, Passing Time was created by Anton Parsons. Unveiled in 2008, it has become a symbol of the city’s regeneration following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Produced by SCAPE public art, as are all the sculptures in this article.
Alice in Videoland mural
On the side of the Alice Cinema building, is a Tim Burton-esque mural created by Jacob Yikes, a prolific Christchurch artist (who we featured in our 16 March ArtBeat section). The mural depicts a larger-than-life Alice, serving as a playful invitation to the cinema’s charming DVD rental and theatre.
The Nucleus sculpture
The Nucleus sculpture is a striking red stainless-steel sphere that appears to be hovering in mid-air.
Standing tall at a towering height of nine metres, Nucleus was crafted by the talented artist Phil Price.
Located on the intersection of High, Manchester, and Lichfield streets, this kinetic masterpiece commands attention and leaves a lasting impression on all who pass by. 
Riverside Market 3D mural
One of the newest murals to appear in Christchurch is the Riverside Market 3D mural. It gives a sneak peek into our city’s
heritage, pre-quake and features elements that are a nod to the global women’s suffrage movement.
This piece of work was created and designed by Josh Thompson of Madeknown and was painted by collective DTR Crew members Jacob Yikes, Wongi ‘Freak’ Wilson, Nick ‘Ikarus’ Tam and
Guy ‘Dcypher’ Ellis.
Diminish and Ascend sculpture
Diminish And Ascend is a welded aluminium stairway sculpture created by David McCracken, and is located in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
If you’re in the area, it is definitely worth checking out.
