An interactive visual art programme, designed to challenge and stimulate its audience, will take centre stage at the eighth Splore festival, from February 19 – 21. The biennale three-day summer festival at Tapapakanga Regional Park is renowned for integrating creative disciplines.

Under the direction of new Art Curator, Shea O’Neill, this year’s art programme will see eye catching installations, spill over from ‘The Art Trail’, and weave throughout the site, allowing artworks to merge with the stunning natural setting of woods, beach and sea.

Designed as site specific interactive artworks, the art displays are by a diverse cross section of contemporary New Zealand artists, including architects, film makers, painters, writers, video artists, sculptors, photographers, spatial designers and performance artists. To complement the overall aesthetic feel of the festival, the projects have been chosen for their interactivity and innovation.

Speaking of the Splore 2010 programme, O’Neill said “In response to the unique challenges of the Splore environment, this year’s eclectic line up of talented artists have pushed the boundaries of art and technology, to produce an interactive art adventure, that will open your mind, warp your senses and enlighten your imagination. Expect retro, future, giant, neon, steam-punk, cycle-powered, nude, time travelling, pop art, multimedia, experimental, interactive, FUN.”

O’Neill, who is behind the sideroom.com online magazine, selected 21 projects to feature at the festival.  He says the selection process was purely project focused, rather than name based.

“The Splore ethos is to provide artists’ with a unique opportunity to present their works in sublime natural surrounds where audiences are responsive to art that invites participation and engagement, and challenges everyday notions of what art is,” he says.

It may sound utopian, a place where music, art and nature merge to inspire a weekend of joyous celebration but Splore is rapidly becoming known as one of the most energetic and inspirational multi-media contemporary arts events in the country. Amongst this year’s artists are acclaimed interdisciplinary artists; Christian Nicholson and Brydee Rood, painters; Liam Moore and Tracey Tawhiao, sculptors; Chris Hargreaves and Stuart Forsyth, multimedia artists; The Hang Out and Nikki Hastings-McFall, and sound artist; Fraser Bruce.

Read more here… or here…

[Show as slideshow]

Price on Application.