Fragments, Lyotard, and Earthquakes: a mosaic of memory and broken pieces

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

This paper explores the responses by a group of children to an art project that was undertaken by a small school in New Zealand after the September 2010 and February 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Undertaken over a period of two years, the project aimed to find a suitable form of memorialising this significant event in a way that was appropriate and meaningful to the community. Alongside images that related directly to the event of the earthquakes, the art form of a mosaic was chosen, and consisted of images and symbols that clearly drew on the hopes and dreams of a school community who were refusing to be defined by the disaster. The paper 'writes' the mosaic by placing fragments of speech spoken by the children involved in relation to ideas about memory, affect, and the 'sublime', through the work of Jean-Francois Lyotard. The paper explores the mosaic as constituted by the literal and metaphorical 'broken pieces' of the city of Christchurch in ways that confer pedagogic value inscribed through the creation of a public art space by children. AM - Accepted Manuscript

20130827_2683_1D3-28 Thanks 4 the Memories exhibit

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Worcester Blvd. Lawrence Roberts works for Photo & Video in Christchurch, suppliers of much of my photo gear in exchange for cash!

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 31

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of eight students falling through a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 15

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of four students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 9

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of students falling through a bridge into the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 13

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of three students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 24

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of seven students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2008 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 1

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a student standing on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2011 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2008 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 2

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of students falling through a bridge into the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2008 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

Photograph of UCSA Orientation (year unknown)

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a crowd of students listening to a band on the UCSA lawn. The photograph was taken during an Orientation Week in the 2000s.

Colin Lau's photograph of the University 2

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A scanned copy of a black and white photograph belonging to University of Canterbury alumnus Colin Lau. Colin describes the photograph as follows: "A shot of the float of a parade in the downtown area. I could still recognize some of the faces of my friends on the left taking in the sight and sound of the day. I do not quite recall the date of that parade; it has to be around the early 70's." Colin notes that the photograph may depict the 1971 'University Graduation Day' parade.

Babul Hasan's graduation photograph 4

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of University of Canterbury alumnus Babul Hasan dressed in graduation regalia inside the University central library.

Babul Hasan's graduation photograph 3

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of University of Canterbury alumnus Babul Hasan dressed in graduation regalia outside the Commerce building at the University of Canterbury.

Mike Gibbs's Canta submission

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A PDF copy of a submission for the University of Canterbury student-run magazine, CANTA, written by UC alumnus Mike Gibbs.

Colin Lau's photograph of the University 3

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A scanned copy of a black and white photograph belonging to University of Canterbury alumnus Colin Lau. Colin describes the photograph as follows: "A scene of the 1971 parade (procession) that celebrates 'University Graduation Day' according to the note on the back of that photo".

Annual Avon River Race Photograph 1

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A scanned copy of a black and white photograph depicting a student race along the Avon River. This was an annual event as part of capping week during the 1950s and 60s. The photograph was taken in the 1950s and was sourced from archives held in Macmillan Brown Library.

Photograph of Students from Bishop Julius Hall

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A scanned copy of a black and white photograph depicting a cohort of University of Canterbury students from Bishop Julius Hall of Residence. The photograph was taken in the 1960s and was sourced from archives held in Macmillan Brown Library.

Photograph of Hall of Residence Ball

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A scanned copy of a black and white photograph depicting a group of University of Canterbury students dressed up for the annual hall of residence ball. The photograph was taken in the 1950s and was sourced from archives held in Macmillan Brown Library.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 20

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of six students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 12

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 11

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a bridge being placed across the Avon River outside the UCSA building in 2015. A number of students will walk across the bridge as part of the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 14

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of three students standing on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 18

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of five students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 17

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of five students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 34

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of eight students standing in the Avon River outside the UCSA building, having just fallen through a bridge they had constructed. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 32

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of eight students falling through a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 29

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of eight students falling through a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 1

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a student falling through a bridge into the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2011 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 2

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of students falling through a bridge into the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2011 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 8

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.