Military monument, Marsland Hill
-
Yvonne Coleman
b.1922
d.2006
Title
Military monument, Marsland Hill
Details
| Production Date | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Collection(s) | Collection Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth. Gifted to the Gallery by the artist in 1991. |
| Accession Number | 91/11 |
| Media | Oil on plywood |
| Measurements | 620 x 780mm |
About
Yvonne Coleman is a Taranaki artist. Her works often deal with local matters. This work depicts a monument that was erected on top of Marsland Hill many years ago to commemorate the Land Wars. Monuments celebrate history from a particular cultural standpoint, and often come under fire from other cultural positions. This monument is no exception.
On 5 February 1991 it was pulled off its pedestal and badly damaged. The Waitangi Action Alliance of Taranaki claimed responsibility for the act, claiming that the monument glorified dishonesty, greed and murder. The monument has not been restored to its position. Coleman's painting is a memorial to a memorial.
