Airport mural ‘makes people angry’

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 4

Airport mural ‘makes people angry’

PA Auckland Moves have been made to have a mural which allegedly upsets and angers tired passengers removed from Auckland’s International airport terminal.

The $15,000 mural, called “North Auckland Itinerary,” is a 40-metre long abstract painting in reds, yellows, greens and blues. It was painted in 1978 by the head of the painting department and Acting Dean of the Elam School of Fine Arts, Professor Robert Ellis. The assistant collector of customs at the terminal, Mr Dave Gillam, said a survey on stress at the airport included an observation that in general terms the painting “tends to make people angry." A consultancy firm, Applied Research, used a psychologist to carry out the survey for the department at the request of airport customs officers.

The firm’s report -said the arrival concourse—where the mural is placed

- is narrow, noisy and often hot. It is decorated with an eye to public art rather than soothing tired passengers.

The regional air facilitation committee has written to the Auckland regional Authority’s Passenger services Board asking for its removal. The board will consider the request ’early next month. Mr Gillam says disapproval has been expressed at the “aggressive nature of the mural.”

“It has no soothing qualities for passengers who are suffering from stress. We look on it as not being helpful in relation to the rapport we are seeking to establish with passengers.” he said. The mural, in the primary passport processing area, is the first New Zealand art overseas visitors see on arrival. Professor Ellis said he would be unhappy to see the mural removed and he does not believe it promotes angry feelings. The idea was to greet passengers after a tiring

flight with “bright, stirring colours” to give them a lift. The mural reminded them they have arrived in a “very colourful country,” he said.