Between the Memory and the Silence

Auckland artist Helen Pollock memorialised WWl and her own "wonderful" father's history, in sculptures that reside at the Royal New Zealand Navy Museum in Devonport and the NZ War Memorial in Belgium. Her work Falls the Shadow comprises a grove of outstretched arms moulded from a mix of Kiwi clay and earth from Passchendaele, symbolising young soldiers mown down by gunfire. As this documentary reveals, her steel and clay work Victory Medal followed the footsteps of the New Zealand Division's French march and is on permanent exhibition in Le Quesnoy, the town Kiwi soldiers liberated in 1918. 

Victory Medal has been following the footsteps of New Zealand troops as they came across Europe, firstly to Arras, then to Messines and now on to Le Quesnoy and like many of those who came here from the outer most ends of the earth these feet won't be returning, they'll be staying here.

– Auckland University academic Robin Woodward on Helen Pollock's sculpture Victory Medal being installed at Le Quesnoy

Key Cast & Crew

David Blyth

Director, Producer

Scott Ewing

Additional Editing

Neil Parker

Additional Camera Operator

Jed Town

Composer

Andrew McMillan

Sculptural Soundscapes

Stephen Latty

Camera