CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
Remembrance
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
PETE MAJENDIE:
• Art curator
• Stand-up comedian
• Conceptual Artist
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
INSPIRATION:
The concept of The Empty Chair depicting the loss
of someone has been used repeatedly across time
and culture.
Bryant Park
Vincent Van Gogh,
Memorial - 2001
November 1888
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.
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.
Artist: Luke Fildes (1844 - 1927)
“The Empty Chair, Gads Hill - 09/06/1870”
Vincent Van Gogh,
November 1888
1995 Oklahoma bombing memorial.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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 2012.
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.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
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.
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS
CONTACT:
Pete Majendie
e. [email protected]
+64 27 228 6736
Pete Majendie
CHRISTCHURCH, 185 CHAIRS