CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS

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Gerald Benson
6 years ago
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1 Remembrance

2 PETE MAJENDIE: Art curator Stand-up comedian Conceptual Artist

individuality of each chair pays tribute to the uniqueness of each person

3 REMEMBER: An art installation reflecting on the loss of lives, livelihood and living in our city following the earthquake of 22nd February 2011 The individuality of each chair pays tribute to the uniqueness of each person represented. This presentation is a proposal to make this installation permanent

REFLECTION: Art is open to interpretation, and

As memories of the events of the earthquake fade,

4 REFLECTION: Art is open to interpretation, and art can transcend a specific event. It can speak to us, and speak for us, when we have no words to express how we feel. As memories of the events of the earthquake fade, the site will remain as an ongoing place of reflection and acknowledgement of loss.

INSPIRATION: The concept of The Empty Chair depicting the loss

In 1888, Van Gogh portrayed the difference between art and

Empty Chair signifying the death of Charles Dickens.

More recently, public memorials have made use of empty chairs

5 INSPIRATION: The concept of The Empty Chair depicting the loss of someone has been used repeatedly across time and culture. In 1888, Van Gogh portrayed the difference between art and life in his two chairs, and in 1870, Luke Fildes drew the Empty Chair signifying the death of Charles Dickens. Vincent Van Gogh, November 1888 Bryant Park Memorial More recently, public memorials have made use of empty chairs to embody loss of lives, as in 1995 in Oklahoma, and 2011 in Bryant Park, NYC. Vincent Van Gogh, November 1888 Artist: Luke Fildes ( ) The Empty Chair, Gads Hill - 09/06/ Oklahoma bombing memorial.

PERMANENCE: Comprising of a black concrete base measuring 21m x12m, sloping from 100mm at the front edge to 500mm at the back, the ground is no longer a level playing field.

The edge of the base is faced with stainless steel. The185 chairs will be made from aluminium then powder coated white.

6 PERMANENCE: Comprising of a black concrete base measuring 21m x12m, sloping from 100mm at the front edge to 500mm at the back, the ground is no longer a level playing field. Exposed agregate to provide a non-slip surface. Dendritic-like cracks in the concrete, lit from within, depict not only the cracks in the ground but also speak of feelings and emotions, nerve cells. The edge of the base is faced with stainless steel. The185 chairs will be made from aluminium then powder coated white. The styles will be wide ranging - from a baby capsule to a rocking chair, an office chair to a wheelchair. Each one representative of different ages and stage of life, and various cultures. They will then be permanently attached to the concrete base in rows. At the centre of the chairs will be a tree sourced from the Red Zone. On the front left-hand corner a large split greenstone boulder, with the internal faces polished, is lit from below. It represents the ground cracked open and, while not written there, suggests the names of those lost are held by the earth.

HEALING: Everybody can find a chair, or series

The installation transcends the actual event of

7 HEALING: Everybody can find a chair, or series of chairs, that they can identify with. In this way, the chairs form a direct physical connection to those lost. The installation transcends the actual event of the earthquake and offers a place of reflection and healing for all kinds of loss.

LOCATION: 185 Empty Chairs was built on the site of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church for the first anniversary of the February Earthquake, in rememberance of

As it will eventually have to move again, it highlights the necessity for a permanent site.

8 LOCATION: 185 Empty Chairs was built on the site of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church for the first anniversary of the February Earthquake, in rememberance of those who died in the quake, and was subsequently moved to its present site, St Paul s Trinity Pacifc Presbyterian Church, diagonally opposite the CTV site. As it will eventually have to move again, it highlights the necessity for a permanent site. The proposal to position the chairs on the CTV site acknowledges the ground zero nature of the site. The existing temporary installation is already well visited by locals and tourists and appears on tourist information maps and websites.

RESPONSE: Taken from the 35 books of comments from visitors to the site; Really moving, I couldn t really visualise 185 until seeing all the chairs like that. Very beautiful and moving.

9 RESPONSE: Taken from the 35 books of comments from visitors to the site; Really moving, I couldn t really visualise 185 until seeing all the chairs like that. Very beautiful and moving. Very good in being able to remember not just the loss of them, but the spaces that they left in the city. Simply stunning. Thank you for this visual reminder of those who died. It is simple but so effective especially here with workers in hi vis in the early morning of 22 February Thank you, thank you thank you for putting something physical here for us to weep over. The chairs speak volumes more than words. 185 reasons to make every day count. How quickly life s path can change. Wonderful. Should be permanent - profound. Much gratitude to Peter and the church. I m so glad we came here. It is a lovely idea and it feels very special to participate. We are visitors to the city, but this is very moving and powerful - the variety of chairs, all together, all connected, all different. Thanks. The only thing that made sense today. I never understood art until today, what a fitting memorial. I hope it stays for a while.

The most poignant memorial for all 185 I have seen. The first time I ve cried over the EQ s in 365 days. Absolutely beautiful. I m unsure how I feel about this.

10 The most poignant memorial for all 185 I have seen. The first time I ve cried over the EQ s in 365 days. Absolutely beautiful. I m unsure how I feel about this. It is very special, but also makes it real and I have been in shock the past 12 months. Beautiful and brave. I was almost chair 186. This is beautiful. Rest in peace you brave souls. Arohanui. Lots of special memories. Very surreal seeing the white chairs where I used to sit every sunday as a child. Very beautiful under the flood lit night. Thank you for the tribute - 10 of these empty chairs are for my colleagues and friends who I miss every day. Our 25 year old son Matthew died as a result of the earthquake. He will live in our hearts forever. Thank you for allowing us this peaceful moment to reflect. Words cannot express the profoundness of this art installation. It encapsulates the lost personalities and the impact of that loss on their families in a way no photo can, each chair tells it s own individual story. Wow! This is a powerful way to stir emotions and remember those we lost. The office chair did it for me - we lost 4 of our staff in PGC. Thanx. So many different chair, so many different people - so much loss - but so many precious memories for all who have lost so much - thank you for such a great way to remember them. Very poignant expression of our grief for those who died that terrible day. Chairs are so much more individual and significant than 185 white crosses. Thank you for creating this symbol of those lost to us.

11 CONTACT: e

God of life and death and life again, speak to us today and guide our lives, individually and collectively. In Jesus name, Amen.

God of life and death and life again, speak to us today and guide our lives, individually and collectively. In Jesus name, Amen. Every year, on All Saints Sunday, the church takes a moment to pause, in