Urban Legend is an exhibition of newly commissioned work for the Te Tuhi foyer by New Zealand artist Bena Jackson.

Exploring the ways we can challenge the built world around us, Jackson uses Olearia paniculata box hedges and a pile of hand-made ‘hacky sacks’ to partially disrupt people’s movement and activities in the foyer. By bringing outside elements of the everyday into the gallery space, Jackson highlights community actions and their potential within the urban environment.

With a focus on small acts of ingenuity, resourcefulness and resistance, Urban Legend celebrates how people living in a city can work collectively to align environments more closely with their needs and beliefs.

Jackson lives and works in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, making sculptures and installations. Her practice focuses on community actions in public space and urban environments. Jackson’s recent exhibitions include Castle Mall (2023) at RM Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland; Camera phone (2021) at play_station space, Te Whānganui-a-Tara Wellington; and Bound in secret knots (2021) with Teresa Collins at Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, Te Whānganui-a-Tara Wellington. In 2023, she was the recipient of the Iris Fisher Scholarship.