Land March – Dame Whina Cooper

My art work of Dame Whina Cooper is best known for her famous land March 1975 from Te Ha-pua ( in the far north ) to Parliament in Wellington. It marked a new era of protest and reform, organised by Maori groups.

On arrival at parliament October 13 about 5000 marchers presented a Petition signed by 60,000 people to the then Prime Minister Bill Rowing, Dame Whina Cooper was 79 years of age.

Following on from this in public life she told an international audience “ that the treaty was signed so that we could all live as one nation in Aotearoa “

Dame Whina Cooper died at Hokianga in 1994, aged 98. More than a million people watched the live television broadcast of her tangihanga (funeral )

My artwork representation of the photographic image is very different to the original. With a changed landscape perspective and the young child’s head is looking straight ahead alongside this the Dame Whina Cooper image proportion is must greater.

In good conscience I have tried to capture the spirit of the image to honour the legacy of Whina Cooper. The art work is about having a dream and hope for young and old, and that its never to late to walk forward to a new promised land in faith whereby bent roads of injustice can be made straight though courage of conviction, inspired by Dame Whina Cooper.

The original work framed in Toroa timber or Kari from Northland, would be very significant to the art works importance and respect for Dame Whina Cooper legacy to live on in remembrance for future generations.

The medium is acrylic, on canvas, mixed media and schelac. The art work stands portrait 100cm wide and 150cm high.

Limited edition of 50 prints