Sculpture for Aust.

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 7

Sculpture for Aust.

This sculpture on the wall of Remi Couriard’s L’Etacq Studio in Sydenham is destined for the University of Queensland. It was commissioned by Mrs Betty Pearson, of Christchurch, in memory of her son, Dr Kent Pearson, who taught at the Department of Human Movement Studies there, but died four years ago while competing in an “iron man” contest. Dr Pearson was a keen mountaineer, skier, surf life-saver, canoeist and all-round outdoorsman.

He had recovered from a severe attack suffered the year before while swimming, and continued his sporting activities right up to his death on a Queensland beach on July 21, 1983. Remi Couriard, who designed the sculpture, says the central mountain — chain-saw carved out of matai by Tony Foster — represents

Mount Torlesse, where Dr Pearson’s ashes are buried. The chainsaw technique created a realistic impression of bare rock, scree slides and high snowfields. The waves in front are of smoothly polished kauri, representing Dr Pearson’s surfing and kayaking activities. The sculpture will be flown to Queensland next month for mounting on a wall at the entrance to the Department of Human Movement Studies.