Artist FLOX, Sugartree Lane Preschool owner Malcolm Clarke and students in front of their new mural. Photo credit: Michelle Beard.
<h2 dir="ltr"><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">A central Auckland preschool and a street artist have formed an unlikely partnership, teaming up to transform the walls outside their classrooms with a new mural.</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Sugartree Lane Preschool has collaborated with celebrated street artist Hayley King, also known as FLOX, to create a mural with the goal of brightening up the city centre, inspiring the students, and learning about te ao Māori.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 5.85m x 2.75m interior mural depicts the life cycle of the pūriri moth, from eggs, to larvae, to pupa, and finally to moth. The artwork uses this transformation as a metaphor for the growth and learning of children.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We wanted to uplift and beautify this concrete space while giving our children something that sparks their imagination every day,” said Sugartree Lane owner Malcolm Clarke.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“The pūriri moth holds significance in Māori culture and is an important part of Aotearoa’s natural history. We’ve been exploring its life cycle with the tamariki through stories and artwork, and this mural brings that learning to life in a vibrant way.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr">The pūriri moth’s life cycle reflects ideas of transformation and connection to the environment, which align with the focus of Te Whāriki (New Zealand&#8217;s national early childhood curriculum framework) on exploration and belonging. For tamariki, learning about the moth supports both scientific understanding and Māori perspectives of the natural world.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The students themselves also played a part in shaping the design. After looking through some of FLOX’s previous illustrations, they voted to add three more creatures, a monarch butterfly, a wētā and a mokarakare butterfly, which have been stencilled onto the wall.</p>
<p dir="ltr">FLOX, whose distinctive native-inspired murals are found across Aotearoa, said the collaboration was a natural fit. She and Clarke have previously worked together on the Tu Meke Tales series of children’s books, and are excited to bring a vibrant artwork into the heart of Auckland’s CBD.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“This piece is for the kids and their whānau, and I hope it’s a daily reminder that growth takes time and can be beautiful along the way,” said King. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Art sticks when you see it every day and this wall turns the puriri’s life cycle into a daily nudge to stay curious. We’re painting a story the kids can grow with and we hope it reminds them that big change starts small.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">An official unveiling and blessing of the mural will take place on Wednesday August 27th at 6:30pm, with families and whānau invited to celebrate the completion of the project.</p>

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