Art for all eyes
The city’s public art offering has a new show-stopping addition, an incredible bookshelf mural in Upper Riccarton.
Fast becoming the national capital of street art, the identity of Christchurch is increasingly shaped and reflected by its numerous colourful and bold murals on buildings across the city.
The latest addition to the ever-growing collection of public mural art by talented local artists is a stunning bookshelf mural on Riccarton Road. The site was once the home of the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library, which was demolished in 2023. The vacant space has since been redeveloped as a memorial park in honour of those who served and, alongside the landscaping, the large east-facing wall has been transformed with a mural designed and painted by Ōtautahi artists Dcypher (@dcypher_dtrcbs) and Drows (@thatsolivekid). The huge piece depicts a bookshelf filled with objects that reflect the history and significance of the site – from books to medals, letters from the front, a framed picture of a soldier reading amidst a field of poppies, to toys (representing the Plunket that also used the building). A korimako and a woven kete symbolise the area’s indigenous and natural history, while a porcelain tea set and a tapestry acknowledge the area’s
multi-cultural community.
The Upper Riccarton mural was supported by the Christchurch City Council’s Place Partnership Fund, Watch This Space, The Christchurch City Council Parks Team, Toi Ōtautahi and a range of community stakeholders.
Another recent standout work in the city was the completion of the country’s tallest mural on the side of the 13-storey Distinction Hotel. Depicting a detailed portrait of a woman wearing a mask against an orange background, the logistically challenging work [featured on our cover] was created by local artist Jacob Yikes.
“I’m very fortunate to witness the growth of Otautahi’s art scene, particularly seeing the positive impact street-based art work bring to all walks of life. I hope to continue living and working here in the years to come,” says Jacob. For a map of the city’s mural artworks, see the Watch This Space website at watchthisspace.org.nz.
