The sculptor who made Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s statue that still stands outside the Government Buildings was John Doubleday.
The story about his work was published in The Fiji Times on February 4, 1977.
Mr Doubleday was putting the final polish on his larger than life bronze statue of one of Fiji’s well-known leaders and statesmen, Ratu Sukuna. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the statue later that month.
Sculptor Doubleday last saw his work in London in 1974.
He began the previous year to study photographs of Ratu Sir Lala, read about him and heard recollections of him from those who knew him well, including Sir Josua Rabukawaqa, then Fiji’s High Commissioner in London.
For eight months, he worked the plaster model.
The result was 22cwt of fragile pinster which had to be moved to a foundry for casting.
“It was a real logistics problem but we managed with a specialist firm of fine art movers, a low loader and a crane,” Mr Doubleday said.
The statue was cast in bronze in six large pieces.
Mr Doubleday finished work on it before the end of 1974 and shipped it to Fiji. Because of a delay in deciding on a suitable site, the statue remained in wraps until the end of January of 1977.
He arrived to supervise the installation of the statue.
The 15cwt hollow statue was smoothly transferred from its packing case to the plinth outside Government Buildings.
“The statue is structurally cast to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.
“The plinth also needs stability to withstand extreme conditions.
“Government Buildings would fall down before this one goes,” he said.
With the statue in place, hidden inside a quickly constructed room, Mr Doubleday completed the patination.
This is a process to put a protective layer of oxide on the bronze to try to ensure that it weathered uniformly.
“I will give it a final polish but it is all ready now for unveiling rehearsals.” he said.
About half of Mr Doubleday’s work was for exhibitions and the other half commissioned statues or busts.
He did a bust of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in 1973. He completed a bust of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Another larger than life statue, of a warden and vice-chancellor of Oxford, Sir Maurice Bowra, which he has been working on since 1972 was to be unveiled at Oxford.
“I have a detailed work program sorted out 18 months ahead and a rough idea of what I could fulfil my commitments.
“It is not really the sort of artist’s life I expected but I have become easily reconciled to it,” he said.
