ANZ has this year transformed its Ponsonby branch in Auckland into a large-scale installation to celebrate the Auckland Pride Festival. New Zealand artist Shannon Novak is behind the new look branch, having installed over 200 individual panels to wrap the Ponsonby Branch in Pride decor. The work is titled Rhapsody and was designed especially for the ANZ Ponsonby branch. “When developing this work, the main idea that entered my mind was an explosion of colour,” says artist Shannon Novak. “Pride is about showing the vibrant and diverse colours of our community to the world.” Antonia Watson, Chief Financial Officer and ANZ NZ Pride Network executive sponsor, says “Last year we brought the fabulous GAYTMs to Auckland and Wellington and this year we’ve taken things a step further and dressed our entire branch in an amazing colourful artwork to celebrate the rich diversity of our staff and customers. We really are wrapped for Pride! “Thirty years on from Homosexual Law Reform in New Zealand, there’s lots to celebrate and reflect on. We’re strong believers in diversity, inclusion and respect, and we’ve been supporters of the Pride community in New Zealand for over a decade.” Last year the Ponsonby Road GAYTM was hit with a can of white paint, with the group Queers Against Injustice taking responsibility and saying it targeted the GAYTM to draw attention to “the commercialisation of the Pride Festival” and “the lack of representation of bodies that counter the racist, classist and cis-biased nature of Pride”. It said it also wanted to highlight working conditions for ANZ staff. The three ATM’s that were last year transformed into GAYTM’s will once again be used to celebrate Pride and ANZ will donate proceeds from the use of non-ANZ customer cards from the GAYTM’s to OUTLine.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 15th February 2016 - 3:34pm