Artist Karl Maughan took his scissors to the single largest oil painting he’s ever created.

The Lobby bar at SKYCITY Grand Hotel was the backdrop to the cutting ceremony, titled Forest Road. A five-metre original oil featuring over 1000 of Maughan’s iconic rhododendron flowers, the work was valued between $60,000 and $70,000 if available for sale.

It was a collaboration between Christensen Estate winery on Waiheke Island and Maughan, to mark the winery’s first vintage – the 2005 Christensen Estate Waiheke Island Merlot.

Basil Christensen of Christensen Estate suggested cutting the painting into 1000 pieces and hand labelling them onto the estate's limited edition merlot series, which will sell at the Gow Langsford Gallery in central city Auckland from Thursday December 4, 2008.   

“We loved the idea of sharing one of Karl’s artworks with a large group of people, particularly when original oils may be out of the reach for some,” said Christensen.  

Christensen Estate and Maughan have also collaborated with the SKYCITY Entertainment Group on a package that will be auctioned to benefit Kidz First Children’s Hospital at Middlemore, Auckland.

This package will be auctioned at a function at the Gow Langsford Gallery on Thursday December 4, 2008, and includes dinner for four people at SKYCITY Grand Hotel’s Dine by

Peter Gordon restaurant. The dinner will be hosted by Maughan and the Christensens.   

Chef Peter Gordon will design a degustation menu for the night, which will be accompanied by the 2005 Christensen Estate Waiheke Island merlot. Guests will receive their own boxed set of six bottles, which will include the labels made from Maughan’s cut-up painting.��  

www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz