Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is about to start in Albert Park. Just thought I would shed some light on that.

Although I applaud any event that brings more people into the City this event seems to have lost it's way a little.

I find it difficult to see why we have to single out Chinese Culture to celebrate when Auckland has become such a multi cultural city brimming with so many nationalities. Surely we should be celebrating racial diversity.

On top of that ( and let's be honest ) the whole thing feels a bit tacky. The lanterns are not exactly works of art, they look like they have been mass produced and the whole thing feels like a slightly more PC version of the Easter Show.

With Albert Parks proximity to the Auckland Art Gallery isn't there an opportunity to introduce the thousands of people trying noodles for the first time to some real art?

The recent Art after Dark initiative had some great works: Tiffany Singhs' works for one would look great juxtaposed against an Albert Park back drop as would Bill Culberts works illuminating the Gallery.

It seems a shame not to want to continue to develop and improve what is obviously a very successful event and leverage the opportunity to open peoples minds to new things.