Proof of Gratitude

"Proof of Gratitude" is my gold award-winning print from the 2015 Epson/NZIPP Iris Awards. For a few years, I had wanted to create an image that reflected my thoughts on the Centenary of World War I, particularly the sacrifices made by people from rural parts of New Zealand. Every element in this image holds significant meaning for me.

The memorial arch that serves as a "frame" in the image is from the Hills Creek Cemetery in Oturehua, Central Otago. I deliberated extensively on whether to include the names on the archway. Ultimately, without the names, it felt incomplete; even my partner (and creative consultant!) agreed that it lacked meaning without them. The idea of using the arch to frame a significant landscape, and then adding an additional border of barbed wire, was inspired by old postage stamps.

The landscape featured is Mount Kyeburn, a site with deep significance for many in the Maniototo region. After World War I, part of the area surrounding the mountain became part of the soldiers' settlement. The 'Soldiers Syndicate' was formed by cutting off just over 8,000 hectares from Kyeburn Station. The title of the piece was inspired by a PhD thesis about soldier land settlement in New Zealand after World War I, authored by Ashley Gould.

The barbed wire border represents both farming and the soldiers from rural areas, though some judges at the Iris Awards interpreted it as a symbol of the battlefield itself. Additional elements include seven crosses, each representing a soldier killed in action. The Canada Geese, long-time residents of the Maniototo, symbolize teamwork and endurance in their long-distance migratory flights. I've also included background texture made from Central Otago grasses and tussocks around the edge of the frame.