B.

Wrong way in

Behind the scenes

Impossible not to feel disappointed by news yesterday about a huge new sculptural gateway for Christchurch.

Given Christchurch's tumultuous recent past, surely we've missed a chance here to greet incoming travellers with something both more reassuring and inspiring. If those involved in the project suffer a late change of heart and start casting about for options, I have the perfect sculpture in mind. It's by Martin Creed, from 2006, and it says the following in huge white neon letters:

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT.

Martin Creed Work No. 560 EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT 2006, White neon. Image source: walkthroughpuddles.wordpress.com

Martin Creed Work No. 560 EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT 2006, White neon. Image source: walkthroughpuddles.wordpress.com

Drivers entering Christchurch from the northwest will be welcomed, The Press reports this morning, by 'two sweeping arcs, suggestive of the Southern Alps'. On the evidence of an artist's impression of the structure, which The Press discovered on the website of the engineering firm involved (and which was removed from the website overnight), it will look pretty much the way you'd expect such a structure to look: white, politely streamlined, and vaguely evocative of landscape and travel. Public sculpture for the middle of the road.