Preserving the Past

The famous war mural in the Hall of Memories at the Hastings War Memorial Library is to undergo preventive conservation treatment starting Monday 13 November. 

Professional conservator Carolina Izzo has been commissioned to assess the condition of the mural and undertake any repair work. 

Treatment may include cleaning of the overall paint surface along with retouching and repairs to areas where colour loss has occurred. 

The Hall of Memories entrance to the library will be closed on Friday 10 November so scaffolding can be safely erected, but will be open to the public during the conservation work.

Library users will be able to partially observe the conservator at work in the Hall of Memories, which will finish on Thursday, 16 November. 

The mural, painted in 1959 and listed as a public artwork, was designed and painted by war artist Peter McIntyre OBE. The mural depicts an assault by the joint branches of the armed forces on an unspecified beach. 

About Peter McIntyre

Dunedin born artist Peter McIntyre was appointed New Zealand’s official war artist in January 1941. Between 1941 and 1945 he recorded the activities of 2NZEF in Crete and North Africa, and at Cassino in Italy. His war art work, exhibited in Europe and New Zealand, defined the New Zealand soldier’s experience of the Second World War. 

About Studio Izzo

Studio Izzo is a professional art conservation practice based in Auckland. The team of professionally trained and accredited art conservators offer a wide range of remedial art conservation treatments to private, gallery, and museum collections. The Studio Izzo heritage team specializes in the project management of restoration and conservation procedures on heritage buildings, alongside helping architects and designers to build new heritage for the future. https://www.studioizzo.co/ 

24 October 2023

Back to News