Design in coloured glass for Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand Cable Street Glass Spandrels

1998

Milan Mrkusich

Accessible

Type

  • Mural
  • Window(s)

Medium

  • Enamel paint
  • Glass

Dimensions

  • H8600 x W14,680mm

Milan Mrkusich, Untitled (Te Papa Tongarewa) (1998), Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024

1998–Current

South-facing elevation, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, 55 Cable St, Te Aro, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Artists
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)
    • Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand (Host site, Owner)
    • Jasmax (Architect(s))

Description

In 1994, eleven artists and designers were invited to submit a proposal for an artwork on the exterior of the planned building. Mrkusich won, and the resulting mural was installed ready for the museum’s grand opening in 1998.

Made from coloured enamels baked onto strengthened glass, the mural is a colourful journey of glass spandrels that run the length of the south side of New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. The work spans two floors, and extends across six window bays that overlook Cable St.

‘The Design was deemed necessary by Pete Bossley, Jasmax Architects, to conceal structural elements of the building when viewed from Cable Street.” Lewis Mrkusich.

See also: