Regeneration

Regeneration (2005), by Neil Miller

Neil Miller’s tower (constructed in steel, with vines forming an intrinsic, yet essentially unplanned, part of the sculpture) is reminiscent of the avant-garde Russian artists of the early twentieth century who celebrated the use of industrial materials.

Regeneration is a process of renewal and restoration; in the setting of the Auckland Domain it refers to the history of human activity on the site as well as the Domain’s role as a public park. There are formal gardens, which evolved from an 1860s Auckland Acclimatisation Society site, which focused on introducing new ‘innoxious’ species, both plant and animal. In 1882 the gardens were transferred to the Auckland Domain Board. By the 1990s these societies had become Fish & Game New Zealand and their role was now to protect natural habitats and species.

Miller’s choice of colour for the work refers to a unique shade of green found in the New Zealand bush. Symbolic of renewal are the native plants incorporated into the sculpture. Tecomanthe speciosa, a native vine known by Maori as akapukaea, winds it way to the full height of structure. Perhaps deliberately chosen as its conservation status is regarded as critically threatened.

Part of a project initiated by Outdoor Sculpture 2001 Incorporated to mark the new millennium with a sculpture walk in the Auckland Domain.