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All New Zealand Christchurch 185 Chairs
185 Chairs is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

185 Chairs

An unusual and powerful memorial in which earthquake victims are remembered by empty white chairs.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Added By
Lew Blank
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185 Chairs Memorial   Wendy Mann/CC BY 2.0
185 Chairs Memorial   Wendy Mann/CC BY 2.0
185 Chairs Memorial   Bernard Spragg/Public Domain
One chair for each loss   Jocelyn Kinghorn/CC BY-SA 2.0
185 Chairs Memorial   Tony Hisgett/CC BY 2.0
  mattpeterturner / Atlas Obscura User
  rebogamy / Atlas Obscura User
  Michael Reinhardt / Atlas Obscura User
  mattpeterturner / Atlas Obscura User
  Michael Reinhardt / Atlas Obscura User
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About

On February 22, 2011, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit near Christchurch, New Zealand, devastating the city´s infrastructure and killing 185 people. To memorialize the victims, 185 empty white chairs were placed in an open field near the center of Christchurch, one chair for each life lost.

While most memorials feature crosses, gravestones, or a list of names, Christchurch’s 185 Chairs installation remembers the earthquake's victims with an empty white chair for each, designed to fit each victim’s personality. The display is made up of armchairs, dining room chairs, beanbags, wheelchairs, baby capsules, or whatever seat the person would have sat on.

The current site of 185 Chairs was once a vacant lot, ironically made up of about 185 square meters of grass. But local artist Peter Majendie transformed it into the unique and powerful installation it is today. Says Majendie, "the installation is temporary—as is life."

Update as of February 2023: Unfortunately, the current site is due to be sold for residential purposes.

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Memorials Disasters Earthquakes Installations Art

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The memorial has been moved to the former St Luke's Church site on the corner of Manchester and Kilmor Streets.

The church was damaged in the quakes and later demolished.

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Community Contributors

Added By

lewblank

Edited By

ankhst, almackenzie, Meg, rebogamy...

  • ankhst
  • almackenzie
  • Meg
  • rebogamy
  • mattpeterturner
  • Michael Reinhardt

Published

April 17, 2017

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Sources
  • https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/131664802/bittersweet-farewell-as-famous-christchurch-earthquake-memorial-is-dismantled
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/124385720/185-empty-chairs-return-to-christchurch-city-centre-after-three-month-absence
  • http://www.lostateminor.com/2012/11/19/185-empty-white-chairs-commemorating-the-christchurch-earthquake/
  • http://hyperallergic.com/358714/six-years-after-the-christchurch-earthquake-a-homegrown-memorial-faces-an-uncertain-future/
  • https://givealittle.co.nz/project/185whitechairs
185 Chairs
Christchurch, 8013
New Zealand
-43.526504, 172.639739
Visit Website

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