Opera on the Whanganui
Di ffrench, Artist
This is one of the
photographs
in our collection.
It was made in 1996. The place where it was made is unknown.
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Object Detail
About the Work
Artist
Statement
April
1996:
[This work is a] Reference to opera "Tristan and Isole". Isolde is on the boat to meet Tristan for the final time. When she arrives the mortally wounded Tristan tears off the bandages covering his wounds and falls lifeless.
The female is positioned in reference to the anonymous "Maori Girl in Canoe" of the early tourist greeting cards, this image was montaged onto different settings of the Wanganui River, the Upper Falls etc. I explore an operatic nature of local place-names (from the perspective of a European woman). Mapping research material in the form of historical photographs and discussion with people with links to the upriver and down river areas. Basically I am working within my own experience.
[This work is a] Reference to opera "Tristan and Isole". Isolde is on the boat to meet Tristan for the final time. When she arrives the mortally wounded Tristan tears off the bandages covering his wounds and falls lifeless.
The female is positioned in reference to the anonymous "Maori Girl in Canoe" of the early tourist greeting cards, this image was montaged onto different settings of the Wanganui River, the Upper Falls etc. I explore an operatic nature of local place-names (from the perspective of a European woman). Mapping research material in the form of historical photographs and discussion with people with links to the upriver and down river areas. Basically I am working within my own experience.
Measurements
900 x 1200mm
Media
cibachrome print
Description
A surreal image of a crowned woman in a canoe in the Whanganui River
Credit Line
Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Gift of Vavasour Godkin Gallery, 1996
Collection Type
Permanent collection
Acquisition Date
09 Jul 1996
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Accession Number:
1996/26/1
