Parihaka triptych, 1972

Record number
cm001225
Title
Parihaka triptych
Date
1972
Medium
synthetic polymer paint
Support
3 canvas panels
Dimensions
1: 865 x 1752 mm
2: 1753 x 867 mm
3: 865 x 1752 mm
Inscriptions
3: DECEMBER. 1880. / TE WHITI TO THE PEOPLE McCahon July ’72. (brushpoint, b.r.)
Credit line
Held in trust by the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery for the people of Parihaka
Extended inscriptions
1: an ornament for the Pakeha // TOHU / I stand for / Peace
2: a monument / to TE / WHITI // I / TE WHITI // to people / throughout / the world / and to / the people / of / Parihaka
3: war shall cease / and no longer divide / the world. // Adam’s race has fallen / over many cliffs, but the / cliffs have disappeared / by numerous landslips / and none shall fall over those / cliffs again. The one cliff / that has not been / levelled is / death.
Exhibition history

1973 Taranaki saw it all: The Story of Te Whiti O Rongamai of Parihaka
Waikato Art Museum
Hamilton
6/1973 - 7/1973

1977 McCahon's "Necessary Protection"
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
New Plymouth
1/9/1977 - 25/9/1977

1984 I will need words: Colin McCahon's Word and Number Paintings
Power Gallery of Contemporary Art, University of Sydney
Sydney
11/4/1984 - 17/6/1984

1988 Colin McCahon: Gates and Journeys
Auckland City Art Gallery
Auckland
11/11/1988 - 26/2/1989

1999 Nga Tuhono Tupuna: Urewera mural and Parihaka triptych
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
New Plymouth
7/8/1999 - 26/10/1999

2001 Parihaka: The Art of Passive Resistance
City Gallery Wellington
Wellington
26/8/2001 - 19/1/2001

2011 New Acquisitions and Works from the Collection
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
New Plymouth
18/6/2011 - 28/8/2011

2015 Our Hearts of Darkness
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
New Plymouth
25/7/2015 - 29/11/2015

2017 Colin McCahon: On Going Out with the Tide
City Gallery Wellington
Wellington
8/4/2017 - 30/7/2017