French President to Unveil work of two NZ artists in France

French President to Unveil work of two NZ artists in France

NEW ZEALAND ARTIST BUILDING UNIQUE POPPY OF PEACE IN FRANCE COMBINING NZ AND FRENCH MESSAGES

The Victory Medal and the Coquelicot de Paix (The Poppy of Peace) is a collaborative and interactive artwork,which will include10,000 messages of peace, remembrance and respect written by the French and New Zealanders. The Poppy of Peace by New Zealand artist Tony McNeight will surround the Victory Medal sculpture by the New Zealand artist Helen Pollock.

This is now happening in the town of Arras in France. The joint artwork honours those who protected freedom in World War 1 and commemorates the Battle of Arras.

http://giantpoppy.co.nz/

The Poppy surrounds the sculpture ‘Victory Medal’ by New Zealand artist Helen Pollock, which honours those who fought in WW1 and has been touring New Zealand and will now tour Belgium and France.

http://ww100.govt.nz/victory-medal-sculpture-installation-helen-pollock

The completed project will be unveiled by the French President François Hollande on April 9 2017 ( this coming Sunday) in the Place Des Heroes in Arras.

Also present will be Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada and possibly members of the British Royal Family joining representatives from European and Commonwealth countries who will place the final messages to complete the Poppy.

BACKGROUND ON VICTORY MEDAL.

‘Victory Medal’ honours our forebears who fought in the First World War; those who died and those who returned with their lives blighted and shortened by the experience of war. ‘Victory Medal’ acknowledges all of our heroes.

Thirty six pairs of feet, the number of a small platoon, stand on a rusted steel ‘medal’ in four sections, creating a cross formation. The feet are moulded from rough unprocessed New Zealand clay into a ‘cohesive fighting unit’. They are torn, distressed and fired under intense heat over a period of three days, and permanently altered and hardened. They are sinewed foot-sloggers' ‘feet’. One pair of feet is cast in bronze – a ‘recognised hero’.

BACKGROUND ON THE POPPY OF PEACE

The Giant Poppy art installation is the brainchild of New Zealand artist Tony McNeight and was created in the Auckland Domain in April 2015.

The Mayor of Arras visited the Poppy and was inspired by the messages placed and how everyone could engage in paying their respects so ask the artist to build a smaller replica in Arras to commemorate the Battle of Arras.

The town of Arras has a very strong connection to New Zealand as during World War 1 NZ soldiers were key in building massive tunnels under the town during the World War 1 which became important for quartering animals and troops and tunneling behind enemy lines.

http://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/arras-tunnels

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