Untitled [Arthur’s Pass Railway Station mural]
Ivan Clarkson
Type
- Mural
Medium
- Paint
- Particle board/Chip board
- Laminate
Dimensions
- H3810 x W4855mm
Ivan Clarkson, Untitled [Arthur’s Pass Railway Station mural] (1966), Arthur’s Pass Railway Station.
Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, Feb 2025
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Description
The present day Arthur’s Pass railway station was completed in 1966 as a replacement for an earlier station, which had been destroyed by a fire in 1963. The chalet-style building has been described as “a fine piece of Modern station architecture specifically designed to complement its environment. It displays an imaginative use of the then-vogue A-frame design, an evocation of European alpine architecture. The use of rubble-rock walls and generous window space creates a pleasing appearance that complements the building's purpose.” (source: The Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand)
This mural, along with three (or possibly four) paintings by Maurice Poulton, were installed in the station in time for its official opening by the then-Minister of Railways (and local MP) John McAlpine. Local advocates for the artworks, Pete and Fi Neale, record that “A promotional photo of the time showed the dignitaries standing proudly in front of the artwork.”
Ivan Clarkson designed the mural, and is likely to have painted it himself too. The climber with an ice axe who is depicted in the centre of the scene is thought to be a self-portrait.
The mural and paintings were removed in late 2015 to allow for renovations to the building, which included asbestos removal and relining and repainting the interior. Despite local expectations that the artworks would be reinstated afterwards, this didn’t occur.
In February 2016 the Governor General was scheduled to visit Arthur’s Pass, providing impetus for Kiwirail to reinstate the artworks to the waiting room. The three paintings were reinstalled, however the mural was not.
One year later, Pete and Fi contacted Resource Services (a Kiwirail offshoot) and found an employee who was willing to pursue having the mural reinstalled. Permission was gained, with the proviso that the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand would pay half the costs of the reinstallation, with the remainder being met by KiwiRail, and locals (aka ‘Arthur's Passians’) providing volunteer support on the day to support the reinstallation. Six-months later (and in a new financial year) the mural was returned to its original site.
See also:
- Arthurs Pass Station: The Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand listing