2001 Fruits of the Garden

In Fruits of the Garden a female torso, balancing an apple, stands as a still form between curving serpentine leaves. It was part of a series of works in which Dibble explored the idea of New Zealand as a long untouched paradise. The torso references Eve, from the biblical garden, but also alludes to the busts that feature in European sculpture.

There is an element of jest in the forms: although they appear massive, viewed from the side they are of limited depth, more like a façade, similar to the imposing fronts on colonial buildings when there is nothing behind them.

The work was shown in Wellington in 2002 as part of an arts festival, in an outdoor group exhibition of 14 artworks titled “Changing Spaces” (named after a quote by Richard Serra about how artwork alters a site). In the exhibition sculptures were displayed throughout Civic Square and on the Waterfront.

The sculpture was purchased from this exhibition by the Lambton Quay Harbour Board and permanently installed in Frank Kitts Park.