Lawn, National Contemporary Art Award

Waikato Museum — 2006

Prior to the installation of the National Contemporary Art Award finalist work Lawn (Greener on the Other Side), Waikato Museum requested the work be doused with pesticide – effectively killing it, to prevent insects migrating and invading important historic works. With the assurance that worms and grass insects prefer a warm ecosystem over a dry alternative, Lawn was hung alive, along with pheromone devices, for the 10 week exhibition.  Trimmed and watered daily by gallery staff, the grass grew upwards seeking light, while slowly becoming dormant under the cool dark gallery conditions. In subsequent years the rules of entry for the Art Awards were changed to specifically exclude living art. Lawn continued to grow and was included in the artist's solo exhibition BeingMade 2007.