Memory, Victims and Place : Memorialisation of sorrow caused by conflict, and violence, mass shooting, and war. Five case studies: Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, the USA, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE): A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master at Lincoln University

Abstract

How might the memorialisation of sorrow caused by violence and conflict, mass shooting, or war be expressed? Moreover, how can existing memorial languages be useful to memorialise the open wounds of the victims? Memorials inspire design narratives and develop unique memorial languages that keep remembrance alive. This research employs a case study approach to analyse five memorial landscape architecture projects that express the sorrow of violent conflict (Colombia and Mexico), mass shooting (the USA and New Zealand), and war and loss (the United Arab Emirates). These examples of responses to violence through landscape interventions across a wide range of settings are testimonies to the witnesses, survivors, victims, perpetrators, and places of tragedy. Each narrative of tragedy leaves its own unique set of wounds and scars. This research examines how existing memorial languages might provide unique responses to deal with the sorrow experienced by conflict and violence, mass shooting and war victims. The study of the five responses allows for personal interpretation of tragedy, greater community engagement, and the development of individual and collective memorial responses. To this end I highlight how each of the five cases is particularly effective at identifying one specific theme of memorial language.