Last weekend I was playing croquet at Palmerston North. We were staying out of Town with friends but went into Town for a take-away on the Saturday evening and I was shown this amazing sculpture by the New Zealand artist Paul Dibble in the forecourt of the library.
The sculpture entitled 'All Creatures Great - One Whale = Ten Elephants' sits outside the main entrance to the Central Library in Palmerston North. The sculpture is based on a notion from an old children's nature book. Paul says "When I was a kid in the 1950s, some English books used to use numbers of one thing to give an idea of the size of something else. For instance, the height of 10 elephants equals the height of one whale". These endangered mammals hold a lintel upon which is an oversized arm holding a plumb bob."The elephant is the largest land mammal, and the whale the largest sea mammal. Lots of emotion is attached to saving these creatures and one of the great concerns as we reach the end of the century is saving the planet. The hand and the plumb bob signify 'it's in our hands' as we manage the planet, the environment. It goes back to preciousness, balance and protection. It's a very fine balance." The piece was entirely cast here in Palmerston North at the Dibbles' studio.
Also designed by Paul Dibble and architect John Hardwick-Smith is The New Zealand Memorial in London's Hyde Park Corner which commemorates the enduring bonds between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and our shared sacrifice during times of war. It is a symbol both of our common heritage and of New Zealand's distinct identity. The memorial consists of 16 cross-shaped vertical bronze 'standards' set out in formation on a grassy slope. Each standard is adorned with text, patterns and small sculptures. "Through the words and images, any New Zealander visiting the memorial will recognise home, and British people may learn something of the relationship between our two countries," explains Paul Dibble.
Also designed by Paul Dibble and architect John Hardwick-Smith is The New Zealand Memorial in London's Hyde Park Corner which commemorates the enduring bonds between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and our shared sacrifice during times of war. It is a symbol both of our common heritage and of New Zealand's distinct identity. The memorial consists of 16 cross-shaped vertical bronze 'standards' set out in formation on a grassy slope. Each standard is adorned with text, patterns and small sculptures. "Through the words and images, any New Zealander visiting the memorial will recognise home, and British people may learn something of the relationship between our two countries," explains Paul Dibble.
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I remember, what seems like a VERY long time ago, debating at Stornoway Sheriff Court how many sheep equal a cow. Such were (and possibly still are) the things that concerned the good crofters of Barvas. I've always been amused by things like '10 elephants are the height of a whale' as though that was instructive. It is, of course, only if you have some notion of how tall an elephant is or can find out. People say, 'it's about the size of 3 football pitches'. How big is that then ?
ReplyDeleteIs he any relation to Top Cat's police officer friend ?
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm nice, but I still think the standing stones of Callanish are better! They have been there longer too.
ReplyDeleteAh yes. But how many whats = a standing stone
ReplyDeleteAnd is it the same number of what if the stone is lying down? Answer that then Spesh.
ReplyDeleteOf course it is the same number Marcel - you just put the what in a line rather than stacking them up.
ReplyDeleteMeasures up perfectly you see!