A temporary activation in the window of Smith & Caughey’s department store in conjunction with a ten day festival of temporary public art in the City Centre.
‘BOXED’ is a contemporary dance and an example of ephemeral or time-based public art which was performed within Living Room 2012, a 10-day festival of temporary public art in Auckland’s City Centre.
Choreographed by internationally acclaimed Briton Susanne Thomas and performed by New Zealand dancer Maria Munkowits, ‘BOXED’ took place inside a large wooden box set up in one of the display windows of Smith & Caughey’s on Auckland’s Queen Street.
The 15 minute performance was repeated several times during retail hours over the 10-day festival.
The work explores the idea of the different roles women play in society. It is a site-specific response to the popular idea of retail therapy and also taps into the voyeuristic curiosity of passers-by who may watch a confined human moving in a very exposed place.
Performances and other temporary public art projects such as this are important ways of providing surprise
and variety for people living and working in the city.
They create opportunities to engage artists to trial innovative ideas with an audience, enliven the region’s public places and make them more attractive to visit.
Living Room 2012 curated New Zealand choreographer MaryJane O’Reilly, and supported by the Waitematā Local Board. ‘ BOXED’ was presented with the support
of the British Council.