The Peace Tiles

1986

Hamilton Peace Wall Community Collective

Accessible

Type

  • Mural

Medium

  • Ceramic tile

Dimensions

  • Each tile approx 130mm². Square-facing panels: H1080 x W2120 x D15mm; Central panels: H680 x W1740 x D15mm; Building-facing panels: H665 x W2350 x D15mm

Collaborative community tile mural, ‘The Peace Tiles’ (1986), Garden Place, Kirikiriroa Hamilton

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, May 2024

2015–Current

Civic Square, Hamilton Central, Kirikiriroa Hamilton

2012–2015

In storage

1986–2012

Peace Wall, Garden Place, Hamilton Central, Kirikiriroa Hamilton

Organisations
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

This collaborative community mural comprises six panels, made up of a collection of 750 individually-produced tiles. The project was spear-headed by Lady Rhyl Jansen in 1986 to mark the International Year of Peace. Lady Jansen is the widow of the late Sir Ross Jansen who served as Mayor of Hamilton from 1977-1989.

Originally located on a ‘Peace Wall’ in adjacent public plaza, Garden Place, the work was removed and put into storage in 2012 when the wall was demolished.

Three years later, in 2015, the relocated work was unveiled in its present location in Civic Square by Lady Jansen.

A plaque installed on site reads:

THE PEACE TILES

The Peace Tiles, located on the wall panels here, were originally sited on a Peace Wall in Garden Place.

The tiles, created by members of the community, commemorate the International Year of Peace in 1986.

They reflect the broad anti-nuclear movement across New Zealand.

This saw New Zealand embrace a nuclear-free policy and become a world leader in the campaign for nuclear disarmament.

Relocation of the Peace Tiles was supported by the WEL Energy Trust.

See also: