Nikau Vessel
Artist: Virginia King.
This 3 metre high sculpture is made of aluminium and stainless steel. Water flows over images of grapes and olives, stone fruit and ferns that appear amongst the perforated stainless interior.
The artwork draws inspiration from our fertile region. When Ms King was commissioned to construct a “marker for Market Street”, her thoughts immediately turned to food markets and the abundant crops grown locally. Hence the idea of a container – a cornucopia, the vessel of produce, which then evolved to include a “very deco” radiating nikau reflecting our architectural heritage. The work was commissioned following a generous donation from the trustees of the Estate of William Alan Bell.