Purchased in 2014 by the Art in Public Places Trust for the site at Puke Ariki Landing, the Firkee Wala - In My Heart of Eternal Childhood by artists Lipika Sen & Prabhjyot Majithia is one of the major works acquired by the trust for the city of New Plymouth, that also includes a sculpture by one New Zealand's most important contemporary artist, Michael Paerokowhai.

"The Art in Public Places Trust was established in 2009 under the auspices of New Plymouth District Council to promote, provide and facilitate art in public places, in line with Council’s Art in Public Places Strategy. Among its objectives the strategy aims to promote high quality art works that enhance local culture, heritage and the environment in a way that contributes to “vibrant”, “sustainable” and “together” community outcomes."

Featured amongst artworks erected by the Art in Public Places: The Firkee Wala - In My Heart of Eternal Childhood. Click here: http://www.artinpublicnp.org.nz/ or read the excerpt quoted from the Art in Public Places New Plymouth website below:

"This sculpture, installed at Puke Ariki Landing , is an assemblage of giant pinwheels created with thin sheets of coloured fibreglass mounted with wire and attached to steel holders. These allow for simultaneous free spinning of the pinwheels, creating sounds as they move, even with the lightest breath of wind.

Artists Lipika Sen and Prabhjyot Majithia say the “spinning,twirling,dancing,swooshing” whimsical sculpture reminds them of childhood when the alleyway (in India) came alive with a zillion buzzing joys in motion and they would run to see the Firkee-Wala peddling his toy pinwheels.

“Here we recreate the larger than life awe felt by us as children. The irresistible firkees have grown up in size and grandeur, returning us to the gaping eyes of childhood and welcoming us to the nostalgic experience while the Firkee-Wala has a rest.”

The sculpture was made for the 2014 Kinetika Competition, and was purchased by the Art in Public Places Trust for the site at Puke Ariki Landing.

The artists, who are based in the Bay of Plenty, work in many 3D forms as well as film. They have exhibited in a number of major sculpture shows and have toured several exhibitions around New Zealand."