courage | clarity | creativity
A Thousand Lovers
Nearly a year before the internet exploded with 'strangers kissing' projects, I pioneered a project with Auckland Council on the Waterfront that explored the motif of kissing couples in a multi-phase public art project. Building on the original name of Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau - 'the isthmus of a thousand lovers') I wanted to celebrate the multicultural relationships of the city and the love that binds them all together. Public calls went out, but in the end I managed to solicit over a hundred couples who were just passing by my ArtBox Art Gallery on the Queen's Wharf. I loved the spontaneity and synchronicity of these multi-cultural couples who self selected really, as only happy, emotionally bonded couples wanted to document their love. I filmed and photographed them kissing 'hollywood' style, to reference the cultural memes of romance and to reflect the emphasis on love rather than sexual chemistry. The images and videos were then used in an ArtWeek installation at Britomart Station with 8 mounted screens and over an hour of looped, simultaneous, slow motion kissing, with all the couples coming in to touch lips at the same time, then slowly pulling back. The collection of images always makes me smile because of the profound sincerity of the exchanges and the powerful act of taking back this tenderness that is so abused and subverted by advertising. The love, affection, connection, and commitment of the couples was palpable, and very moving.
