Homage To The Lost Spaces // Public Installation by Mike Hewson.

Installation on the earthquake damaged Cranmer Courts building, part of a series entitled “Homage To The Lost Spaces (Government Life Building Studios)”, Mixed media on plywood, Cnr Montreal and Kilmore Ave, Christchurch CBD, New Zealand.

Mike Hewson is a civil engineer and a self-taught artist based in Christchurch, New Zealand. This self-initiated trompe l’oeil style installation, funded with private donations and his own money, is Hewson’s personal response to the devastating Christchurch earthquake (which occurred on 22nd Feb 2011) and it’s aftermath. Before it disappeared forever, Hewson set out to pay homage to badly damaged Cranmer Courts building destined for demolition. He applied mixed-media images to large plywood panels, depicting scenes and images of people who lived and worked in the building before the devastating earthquake.

This is such a powerful and eery project which would have undoubtedly elicited countless memories and a huge sense of loss for many residents of Christchurch. I am truly in awe and profoundly humbled by this work. Below are a couple of other examples of Hewson’s installations – visit his website and his blog for more.

Post-install of work on Victoria Mansions, “Visions Of The View (Installation)”, Mixed media on exterior of earthquake damaged building, approx. 2.9m x 4.8m, Cnr Montreal and Victoria St, Christchurch CBD, New Zealand.

Permanent public installation of “In The Kings Garden” 2011, 4.8 x 8.9m, mixed media on masonry wall. Located on Cnr Flinders and ACDC Lane, Melbourne (close to 103 Flinders Lane). 

[Images courtesy of Mike Hewson.]