Title >> Stand Together

Location >> Forum North

Art Form >> sculpture

Media >> laminated timber and paint

Artist >> Clive Williams

Date >> 1981

 

"Stand Together" was the third work to be installed in the Forum North grounds and the third work of this survey by the late Clive Williams. Clive had assistance in the constructing of this piece (and work-space and materials were donated by businesses) but the concept, design and erection was a gift from Clive to the city.

The work is both simple -- it consists of sixteen panels of timber, the same height, arranged in a 'V' form -- and also complex. The arrangement has a specific function within his theme construct.

Thirty-two sides of the vertical panels are painted in red, white and black to represent Maori tribes while on the other sides are "colours of the land." Viewed separately the panels have little meaning. But as the viewpoint moves to the front, the double spiral, introduced to depict the koru symbol becomes evident.

So it is an art work from the early 80's with a message -- separate elements have little meaning unless we 'Stand Together.' The challenge then was to understand this sculpture and comprehend the message. Today as we rush past, the challenge is to have the time to even see it...preferably on a day with winter sun filtering through the abundant green foliage around and through the panels of the work.

Text by Desmond Ford


sculpture menusculpture menu backback nextnext