Installations/site artists

FLAGS BY ANGUS WATT

The flags that flutter above WOMAD New Zealand have become an iconic part of the festival. Award-winning UK visual artist Angus Watt, who designs and creates the flags, has work featured at WOMAD festivals around the world. “Basically, no two flags are the same,” Angus says. The elegant creations are made of Japanese silk and each one helps to transform open spaces into spectacular sights. “The flags are really just great big abstract paintings, painted in the sky, using the wind and the sun. “I have to think about the aerodynamics of the flags and how they are going to fly.” Angus says one of the key elements of the large-scale artworks is the array of colours, from ethereal to daring. “The great thing about this fabric is that there are so many in-between colours that don’t have any names. “The flags get worn and they have a lot of sun – the colours change and I re-use fabrics and reintroduce them with other colours, so you have more control over the level of palette.” Angus, who comes from a highly artistic family, had the vision for the sea of flags while trucking across South Africa in the early 90s, three years after art school. A year later, after being further inspired by an exhibition of ceremonial flags from Ghana, Angus created his first flags, using fabric he’d cut with a penknife. Since then he has gone on to create thousands of the decorative silk flags for events across the world, starting with a WOMAD festival in 1997. He describes the WOMAD flags as having a spectacular yet “simple ability to transform an otherwise empty arenas.” “They proved to be an irresistible combination of elements in a classic festival environment - music, colour, and movement,” he says. Angus continues to create flags for WOMAD festivals throughout the globe, saying he has a “zeitgeisty collaboration with WOMADs.” www.anguswatt.net

Image: Michael Flynn

A show like no other, where the world of fairy tales and board games collide and the audience become the show! With the pomp and ceremony of ridiculous rituals and eccentric dance, characters from an over-sized chessboard come to life. A bossy queen, a stupid knight and a pawn with a touch of cunning, conduct an interactive, absurd and humorous game for all ages. Fri, 7.30pm - 8.15pm, Gables Lawn Sat, 1.15pm - 2pm & 5.15pm - 6pm, Gables Lawn Sun, 12.30pm - 1.15pm & 3.15pm - 4pm, Gables Lawn Look out for the chess board symbol on the map for location details.

GIANT CROSSWORDS

Get your brain ticking with this supersized challenge! The aim of the game is for you to unravel the clues, share your wordsmithing skills, and crack the crosswords. Made by WOMAD UK, these gigantic games are a perfect way to have a quiet moment at the festival, or to battle your friends and prove who has the sharpest mind. The crosswords are changed throughout the weekend, so there’s always a fresh clue waiting to be solved. You can find the giant crosswords to the right of the Gables Stage, by Nova Energy Taste the World.

Image: Amandala

Image: Stuart Page

DAVID MERRITT

Dubbed the only man to have found a purpose for old National Geographic magazines, David is known for his hand made, beautifully intrinsic poetry books and zines, often made on the street. David will be selling his original works at WOMAD. Stop by his Jeep and buy a zine or simply watch the creative book making process! You can find him next to the giant crosswords.

INSTALLATIONS / SITE ARTISTS

KEI TUA O TE ARAI -BEYOND THE VEIL

Renowned projection artist Tim Gruchy teams up with musicians and composers Horomona Horo and Jeremy Mayall to create an ethereal and ever-changing digital artwork, set to a thrilling and unique soundscape. This delightful work brings to life a tree at the centre of the WOMAD site, creating the perfect showcase of these three artistic minds. For this project Tim draws his inspiration from Taranaki’s narrative and Aotearoa’s landscape, while Horomona and Jeremy’s soundscape explores the exquisite sounds of traditional instruments used by Ma -ori, known as taonga puoro, paired with otherworldly electronic textures. Show times Fri, 7.15pm - 8.15pm & 9.15pm - 10.15pm Sat, 7.30pm - 8.30pm & 9.30pm - 10.30pm Sun, 7.30pm - 8.45pm & 10pm - 11.15pm

Supported by

TIM GRUCHY

Welsh-born New Zealand-based artist Tim Gruchy has spent more than 30 years exploring interactive multimedia through installation, music and performance. He has exhibited multimedia works, photography, video, music and performance in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Holland, Belgium, UK, USA, Japan, France and Thailand.

HOROMONA HORO

Horomona is a composer, practitioner and cross genre collaborator, who fuses the traditional instruments of the Ma¯ori with a diverse range of cultural and musical forms. The award-winning artist spent many years being mentored by tohunga (experts) of taonga puoro, and has represented New Zealand music in Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania.

JEREMY MAYALL

Dr Jeremy Mayall is a composer, producer, performer and multi-sensory artist. He works in music, sound art and multimedia formats with a focus on exploring sound, time, space, the senses and human experience.

CD WALL

Appreciate the brilliance and artist potential that can be found in everyday items with our impressive wall made entirely of CDs! Created by local Councillor Murray Chong, the CD wall and its luminescent reflective rainbows makes a return to WOMAD. See it for yourself on the back of the Gables Stage Over 65s seating for seniors.