Len Lye's moving sculptures turn heads

The eye-catching works of Christchurch-born artist Len Lye are proving a hit with visitors to the Christchurch Art Gallery.

On Friday night the Gallery held a special public event to mark the opening of Len Lye: Stopped Short by Wonder – an exhibition which showcases 11 of Lye’s major kinetic sculptural works alongside a number of his films, drawings, doodles and paintings.

It has been 15 years since any of Lye's works have been shown in Christchurch and the Gallery is excited about introducing them to a new generation of visitors.

“The response we’ve had from the public since the exhibition opened has been fantastic. People are mesmerized by his moving sculptures, particularly the five-metre tall sculpture Blade,’’ says Christchurch Art Gallery senior curator Lara Strongman.