Lanechange Sculpture

Sculpted into the very fabric of Auckland’s urban landscape, Lanechange emerges. It’s more than just a sculpture. It’s a whisper from Auckland’s past, a three-dimensional echo of a bygone era. Lanechange isn’t tucked away in a peaceful park. It boldly occupies the Durham Street West underpass, a space artist John Radford once described as “inhuman.” This stark setting amplifies the sculpture’s message, forcing us to confront the ghosts of demolished buildings. The sculpture juts out from the wall, a replica of an 1880s building from nearby Shortland Street. It’s a poignant reminder of the city’s architectural heritage, lost to the relentless march of steel and glass towers. Lanechange was Radford’s first public commission. He envisioned it as a provocation, a question mark in a space dominated by “the stale smell of waste and jumbo bins.” He wanted people to question its presence, to respond to its intrusion into this forgotten corner of the city. Across the lane, another of Radford’s works, the mural “…that was then, and that was then…”, continues the exploration of lost buildings. Both pieces were funded through a unique partnership. A property development company, responsible for a large development in the area, contributed the funds as part of an Auckland City Council incentive scheme. This scheme encouraged private companies to invest in public art and spaces, a testament to the city’s commitment to integrating art into its urban fabric. Lanechange is a powerful statement. It’s a memorial to what once was, a lament for the constant cycle of demolition and renewal that shapes our cities.