185 empty chairs facts for kids
The 185 empty chairs is a special outdoor art display in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is also known as 185 white chairs or 185 empty white chairs. This memorial remembers the 185 people who sadly died in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
The chairs were first set up as a temporary art piece. They were painted white and placed in rows. But over time, this display became a very popular spot for visitors in Christchurch. It was put in place on the first anniversary of the earthquake. This was five years before the official memorial, called the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, was finished. Many people hope that this temporary art display will become a permanent part of the city.
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The 185 Empty Chairs Memorial
On 22 February 2011, a big earthquake hit Christchurch. It caused 185 people to lose their lives. One year later, on the earthquake's first anniversary, a local artist named Peter Majendie created the 185 empty chairs display. He painted chairs white and arranged them where the old Oxford Terrace Baptist Church used to be.
The day after the chairs were set up, the local newspaper The Press reported on the artwork. It said that the artist planned for the memorial to stay for only one week. However, Peter Majendie later said he thought the chairs should stay for about three weeks.
Where Did the Idea Come From?
Peter Majendie got the main idea for his chair display from famous paintings. He was inspired by the artist Vincent van Gogh, who painted empty chairs. Van Gogh used these chairs to show the different personalities of their owners.
When Peter Majendie made his artwork, he also knew about other chair memorials. These included the Field of Empty Chairs in the Oklahoma City National Memorial in the USA. He also knew about chairs used in Bryant Park in New York.
Moving to a New Spot
In October 2012, the 185 empty chairs display moved. It went a few hundred metres south to the site of the demolished St Paul's Church. The chairs had to move because building work was starting at the Baptist Church site.
This new location for the chairs is very close to the CTV Building site. This was a place where 115 people died during the earthquake.
Will the Chairs Stay Forever?
In May 2015, the winning design for the official Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial was announced. After this, Peter Majendie started thinking about what would happen to his temporary chair display. He wondered if the chairs could become a permanent part of Christchurch.
In January 2017, Peter Majendie decided to try and make the display permanent. He suggested making new chairs out of aluminium. These would then be painted white to look like the original ones. A new place for the chairs was also needed. The St Paul's Church site was planned for a new sports stadium. Peter Majendie thought the CTV site would be a good new home for the chairs. However, some families of the earthquake victims did not agree with placing the chairs there.
The official earthquake memorial was opened on 22 February 2017. This was six years after the earthquake and five years after Peter Majendie first put his chairs on display.
