Hamilton unveils giant multi-coloured art piece

(Newshub.)
(Newshub.)

A sculpture by world renowned artist Michael Parekowhai was unveiled in Hamilton's city centre on Tuesday.

After a bumpy road that saw some disagree with the placement of the three-storey tall, multicoloured art piece, a crowd turned out to see the 'Tongue of the Dog' take its first breath.

It was only appropriate for the heavens to open on the day Parekowhai's water sculpture was revealed to the public.

An initiative from community arts group MESH, the $700,000 'Tongue of the Dog' was fully funded by donations.

"It's now part of Hamilton and we're really proud of that," says MESH's Stuart Anderson.

"Public art serves so many purposes for expressing yourself as a city and having fun and being creative."

The artwork tells the story of a Māori legend. Tongariro and Taupiri mountains are brother and sister. Taupiri moved to Waikato, became ill, and requested healing waters from her brother.

"He sent his faithful servant, a dog to, Taupiri, and the path the dog made getting there, created the Waikato River," Mr Anderson says.

The sculpture is also made to look like giant Cuisenaire rods and the waterfall in the middle represents the dog's tongue.

But its bright colours and size got tongues wagging at its planning stage.

The council initially rejected the sculpture, reportedly concerned it was too contemporary for its surroundings, but it had a change of heart.

"I think like every piece of art it generates debate and certainly there was a lot of discussion, but I think that's what contemporary art is about," says Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker.

So what was the discussion among the crowd today?

"I don't know what it's got to do with the rest of the city," one visitor says.

"I like it. As soon as you approach Victoria St, the energy, you can sense it," another says.

The artwork will be gifted to the council tomorrow and it's hoped the 'Tongue of the Dog' will soon be the pride of the Tron.

Newshub.