Comments on: Hook of the Fish http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/ A wide-angle view of architecture, urban design and life in Wellington Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:11:11 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Robyn http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-14855 Robyn Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:51:20 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-14855 The hook is rad! But is it wrong for me to fantasize about pulling the hook and ripping up the motorway. (Not that I have anything against the motorway, particularly that part of it...)<br><br>I reckon the hook component would pass the munter public art test, i.e. "What's that supposed to be, then? Just looks like a giant blimmin' [THING] to me!". So then the more obvious hook would lead into the more abstract LED displays on the motorway walls.<br><br>I'm quite excited about the lights. As well as looking rool pretty, they also seem like a good way of adding something artistic to the concrete motorway walls without resorting to a dreaded mural.<br><br>By the way, the reason why Claude Hibder isn't googleable is because his name is <a href="http://www.co-lab.org.nz/" rel="nofollow">Claude Hidber</a>, who is very googleable. How awful for his name to have been spelt wrong on the press release! The hook is rad! But is it wrong for me to fantasize about pulling the hook and ripping up the motorway. (Not that I have anything against the motorway, particularly that part of it…)

I reckon the hook component would pass the munter public art test, i.e. “What's that supposed to be, then? Just looks like a giant blimmin' [THING] to me!”. So then the more obvious hook would lead into the more abstract LED displays on the motorway walls.

I'm quite excited about the lights. As well as looking rool pretty, they also seem like a good way of adding something artistic to the concrete motorway walls without resorting to a dreaded mural.

By the way, the reason why Claude Hibder isn't googleable is because his name is Claude Hidber, who is very googleable. How awful for his name to have been spelt wrong on the press release!

]]> By: Seamonkey Madness http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-11954 Seamonkey Madness Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:25:14 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-11954 FAIL. FAIL.

]]> By: oscar tunnicliff http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-5183 oscar tunnicliff Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:32:41 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-5183 No, sorry maybe it was the typos. that wasnt what i was really saying. what i was saying is that the brief requests something timeless and yet of this time, and that considering this is a monument it seems strange that more tohught wasn't put in to what the effect might be on those people who live with it; stabbed under thier motor way. then again the bucket founton was ment to be a temporary peice as well, thought to be ugly but interesting in its time, now much loved. No, sorry maybe it was the typos. that wasnt what i was really saying. what i was saying is that the brief requests something timeless and yet of this time, and that considering this is a monument it seems strange that more tohught wasn’t put in to what the effect might be on those people who live with it; stabbed under thier motor way. then again the bucket founton was ment to be a temporary peice as well, thought to be ugly but interesting in its time, now much loved.

]]> By: Maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-5179 Maximus Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:10:58 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-5179 So what you're saying is.... its not pretty, and we're going to get bored looking at it? Fair commentary, and for that we'll just have to wait and see how good the artists are. 100 years ago the statue of Queen Victoria was thought to be the best thing ever, then it went through a long period of Yawn. I can't honestly see this lasting a 100 years, and the neon I'd give 2 years max before it craps out - but it will depend on the council's attitude and public support or not as to whether they would keep spending the money to scaffold it and rework the neon every few years to keep it going. Maybe the public will come to love it. So what you’re saying is…. its not pretty, and we’re going to get bored looking at it? Fair commentary, and for that we’ll just have to wait and see how good the artists are. 100 years ago the statue of Queen Victoria was thought to be the best thing ever, then it went through a long period of Yawn. I can’t honestly see this lasting a 100 years, and the neon I’d give 2 years max before it craps out – but it will depend on the council’s attitude and public support or not as to whether they would keep spending the money to scaffold it and rework the neon every few years to keep it going. Maybe the public will come to love it.

]]> By: oscar tunnicliff http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-5174 oscar tunnicliff Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:36:05 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-5174 I don’t mean to speak badly of any elected official or any group focused of public identity. However, when you general venture into any product or performance (such as public art) first and foremost it is important to maintain a cohesive outlook on the project. Not to criticise the artist, of course, as I’m sure they know what they’re doing. It’s just I read the council brief for what they wanted, two points; firstly something which is permanent and long lasting (how permanent doesn’t imply long lasting is anyone’s guess), Secondly they want to be contemporary. Sure a better brief would have been something which didn’t contradict its self? Say, 1, permanent and 2, classic or built with respect to the first fact. An understanding that public art effects public mood would be prudent, what will happen when in a year driving into the city approaching on one of the only “nice” city views in the country one decides (for whatever reason) that looking at a 32m neon tube isn’t, oh i don’t know, pretty. I don’t mean to speak badly of any elected official or any group focused of public identity. However, when you general venture into any product or performance (such as public art) first and foremost it is important to maintain a cohesive outlook on the project. Not to criticise the artist, of course, as I’m sure they know what they’re doing. It’s just I read the council brief for what they wanted, two points; firstly something which is permanent and long lasting (how permanent doesn’t imply long lasting is anyone’s guess), Secondly they want to be contemporary. Sure a better brief would have been something which didn’t contradict its self? Say, 1, permanent and 2, classic or built with respect to the first fact. An understanding that public art effects public mood would be prudent, what will happen when in a year driving into the city approaching on one of the only “nice” city views in the country one decides (for whatever reason) that looking at a 32m neon tube isn’t, oh i don’t know, pretty.

]]> By: rondo http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4617 rondo Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:05:40 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4617 I've discovered the origin of the laser mechanism here: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=U1TmeBd9338 I’ve discovered the origin of the laser mechanism here:
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=U1TmeBd9338

]]> By: M-D http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4614 M-D Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:44:07 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4614 I'm pretty sure it won't be one of those beams that can slice a plane in two as it flies over it... is it...? I’m pretty sure it won’t be one of those beams that can slice a plane in two as it flies over it… is it…?

]]> By: Jan http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4613 Jan Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:42:10 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4613 About that laser beam... Would somebody please think of the airline pilots? Seriously though, it's a bit disappointing to see yet another public installation polluting the night skies with a beam of light shining upwards. Astronomers and other creatures of the (dark) night will not be amused. About that laser beam… Would somebody please think of the airline pilots?

Seriously though, it’s a bit disappointing to see yet another public installation polluting the night skies with a beam of light shining upwards. Astronomers and other creatures of the (dark) night will not be amused.

]]> By: Kaihuia http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4612 Kaihuia Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:40:26 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4612 I'm afraid the extra images just confirm for me that the effect at ground level is going to be more mystifying than striking. But a barb would definitely help with legibility - nothing says 'hook' more clearly than a barb. I’m afraid the extra images just confirm for me that the effect at ground level is going to be more mystifying than striking. But a barb would definitely help with legibility – nothing says ‘hook’ more clearly than a barb.

]]> By: M-D http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4611 M-D Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:35:58 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/hook-of-the-fish/#comment-4611 ...and if the laser beam is not visible by day (can I be forgiven for doubting artists' impressions?), will not those two poles look rather meaningless: Put your thumb over the 'line' on the day illustration - without touching your screen of course - and, forgetting what you 'know', tell me what you 'see'... …and if the laser beam is not visible by day (can I be forgiven for doubting artists’ impressions?), will not those two poles look rather meaningless:

Put your thumb over the ‘line’ on the day illustration – without touching your screen of course – and, forgetting what you ‘know’, tell me what you ’see’…

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