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Installed Amid Criticism, Giant Dinosaur Sculpture Tries to Unite Art, Tourism, and Local Identity in Taupō, New Zealand
A nearly 10-meter tall sculpture has been dividing opinions in the city of Taupō, New Zealand. The work, named Boom Boom, was created by artist Gregor Kregar and recently installed in Riverside Park. It represents a dinosaur of the sauropod species made of stainless steel with a mirrored finish.
The initiative is part of an effort by the Taupō Sculpture Trust to expand public art in the city. The project received a one-time grant of US$ 100,000, about R$ 560,000, released by the Taupō District Council.
The funding was approved back in 2018, but the installation only took place now, during a time of budget pressure and increased municipal rates, which generated criticism from residents.
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Old Investment, Current Criticism
Mayor David Trewavas explained that the commitment to the sculpture was made years ago when a group of local artists and businesspeople proposed to share the costs with the government. According to him, the goal was to bring more color to the city.
“We had about a dozen well-intentioned people who approached us about 15 years ago saying: ‘Let’s add a little more color to the city, but we’ll raise half the money, and you would contribute the rest?’,” Trewavas told the Morning Report program.
Despite the negative reaction from parts of the population, the mayor defended the choice, recalling that public art often causes controversy at first but can enrich urban spaces and attract visitors.
Taupō is known for hosting sporting events like Ironman and Supercars races. For Trewavas, it is time to also value local culture. “The poor artistic community hasn’t had much over the years, to be fair, and this is our way of showing that we support these people too.”
A Dinosaur with Local Inspiration
The choice of the dinosaur was not random. Trewavas recalled that there have been records of dinosaurs in the area: “They used to roam around here. They appeared in the Mohaka River, along the Napier-Taupō road.” Still, he stated that the decision on the form of the sculpture was up to the artists, and he would not let the councilors choose a work.
The base of the sculpture, made of corten steel, refers to volcanic rock. According to Kregar, it represents the geology of Taupō, where the city’s lake occupies a caldera formed by a large eruption about 1,800 years ago.
The artist also explained that the dinosaur was inspired by an inflatable toy and aimed to convey the playful side of the city as a tourist destination. “It’s really hard to hate a dinosaur sculpture,” he told the BBC.
A Work That Provokes Reactions
Despite the criticisms from those who believe the sculpture has no direct connection to Taupō’s identity, Kregar disagrees. He acknowledges that public art often provokes strong reactions. “The sculpture sometimes interrupts the way people interact with the world around them,” he stated.
For him, the controversy is natural. “You place the sculpture there, there’s a reaction, and over time people start to fall in love with it. It becomes part of the local identity.”
The installation of Boom Boom continues to attract attention and generate debate among residents and visitors to the city.
With information from Aventuras na História.
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