TOLD IN STATUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 7

TOLD IN STATUARY

r HISTORY OF DOMINION ALLEGORICAL GROUPS AN EXHIBITION FEATURE , (Special to Dah-x Times) WELLINGTON, June 6. A number of magnificent allegorical' groups by New Zealand's leading sculptor will form the most notable artistic feature of the tennial Exhibition. They will illustrate the discovery, pioneering, and development of the dominion in the course of 100 years. The commission is considered the most important in this branch of art in recent years, and the work is at present being carried out on the exhibition premises. , The figures so far prepared are of surpassing beauty The Exhibition architect (Mr. Edmund Anscombe) in designing the main buildings made provision for a group of statuary on either side of the entrance to the centennial tower block and for a panel in bas-relief above the door. He planned the subjects and held a New Zealand competition to select the sculptor. Of the many entries, the most outstanding were those of Mr W/'Trethewey; of Christchurch. Mr Tretheway is well known in New Zealand art circles as a sculptor of great 'talent." Indeed, He has'beep described as the only really, successful, New Zealand sculptor.. His best works include the Christchurch War Memorial in Cathedral Square, the Captain .Cook statue in Christchurch,: arid the Maui Pomare'statue at WaitaraV r; .i',"*',,. : '. .'.,j_' .;,. ...'. ■ v i- •■ ..'. ■-. . . »-.- ■ Pioneers Typeflcd by Mr for the. Exhibition qom--prises; 'four - major i worka, •; Groups to stand, at the left and right of the main tower block entrance ; will'represent respectively pioneer rheri and pioneer women* Both of these groups are fast-nearing completion,: They are particularly impressive both from, their vivid ', and imaginative conception and their emotional execution; in the modern style. " : ■"■'■"" The, pioneer men's group shows*a male ; figure, lean and! brawny, stripped to the waist for labour arid wearing ,heavy bootsl The figure is. seated, the face set in lines of steadfast idetermination. The firm; jaw and hooked hose are those of the adventurer. Beside, him stands a" boy, young but similarly clad for toH fcncj bplding a heavy axe; his face • too expresses' /determination and confidence in, the future. ; The-pioneer wpmen form a group of three—the mother, with . strong placid* countenance, seated with a baby on her knee and a small girl standing at heir side. They, too, are; splendidly grouped and,; executed with.prpfbtind Reeling;; ; V if:[ Centennial Panel ■ ;'. j "- Theithird and in many ways the greatest undertaking is the central panel. f It will measure 110 feet by 8 and will be easily the largest of its "kind ever carried put in New Zealand. The theme' will be thatof the .Centennial,..; In .'the centre will be a group of:figures symbolic of achievement, prosperity, justice, and nationamifevv©irthe fight will be r a procession of figures representing industrial development, transport, defence, the arts and learning, and all' cultural. accomplishments marching towards a 'central goal, v/hile W the left will; be:the figures, of historypdiscoverprs, missionaries, Maoris, V traders, colonists, and pioneers also marching to the same constant bourne. -Thisfine allegorical pattern, therefore, will show the entire development of New Zealand and tbi? progress of her people in the century of ner history.',. '., . ' Whereas,the. two former.'. groups are practically completed,* Only the. first section*, of "the panel depicting the.coming of Cook and Marsden has. been started; and on it Mr Trethew*»y arid his four assistants are a* •present, working. of Aotearoa" A fourth group, which is at present tentative and has not been definitely commissioned, will be the iinest of all, if accepted. It will a pedestal overlooking one ,of the iriairt lagoons in the central courtyard, and Will be reflected 'in the placid water. An exact clay model from which. the full-scale sculpture will be reproduced »t present stands in the studio. This- group • represents the discovery of New Zealand by the Maori navigator, Kupe. A' lean tattooed chief stands on the prow of his canoe with-'.a ■ spear in his hand; Beside and below him stands his wife, Hine-te-Aparangi, pointing to the distant horizon and crying joyfully, ("There is a long white-cloud on the horizon"). It was from this legend that New Zealand gained Its Maori name. At the feet of the chief and his wife there kneels, symbolic of the superstition and pantheism of the Native of old. an ancient tohunga versed in lore of seafaring.and of trafficking with the gods-of the ocean and shore. It is Mr Trethewey's wish to make this group a permanent memorial to the Maori race and to its place in the history of the Dominion which is not otherwise at present commemorated in bronze or stone.