Fanfare lights up in Le Tricolore for the City of Light

Fanfare lights up in Le Tricolore to support Paris, the City of Light

Tonight Neil Dawson’s Fanfare in Christchurch, New Zealand will be lit with the colours of Le Tricolore flag of France in a show of support for those suffering after the traumatic events of the weekend.

“France has turned off its lights to mourn the victims of the attacks that rocked Paris. Sculptures and monuments from Rio de Janeiro to San Francisco are now glowing with the colours of Le Tricolore, transforming them into international symbols of solidarity. The City of Light (La Ville Lumière) has gone dark, Christchurch joins the world in lighting up our own Fanfare sculpture for them,” said Deborah McCormick, Director of SCAPE Public Art.

The opportunity to show support in this way was at the generosity of Fanfare sponsor Robbie Venrooy of Aotea Electric who said, “we saw the opportunity to show our support for France through the lights; for everyone in Paris, and their families and friends around the world.”

Fanfare sculptor, Neil Dawson, has added his support, "I am pleased for Fanfare to be used as a symbol of solidarity in this way. The colours of the French Flag lighting Fanfare in blue, white and red represent our support at this time.”

About Fanfare

New Zealand's largest public sculpture, Fanfare, 2004/15 by Neil Dawson is a permanent landmark which can be seen standing tall at the entrance to Christchurch at Chaney's Corner.

Fanfare has progressed through an extraordinary journey over the past 10 years to find its home in Christchurch, the birth city of its notable sculptor, Neil Dawson, CNZM.

This visionary six-storey-high sphere (20 metres in diameter and weighing 25 tonnes) is covered in 1.5 metre steel pinwheel fans and can be illuminated in a spectrum of colours at night.

Originally commissioned in 2004, it was suspended from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year in 2005. It was donated to Christchurch by the City of Sydney in 2007. Christchurch City Council, SCAPE Public Art and Neil Dawson have worked together to install Fanfare at Christchurch's northern entrance.

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