Nga Hiwi Walker - Tane's Moko

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Nga Hiwi Walker
Tane's Moko
Totara, rope


Artist Statement:
"Tatai Manawa - the pulsing heart of this story is created through ancient stories and the overlapping and joining of design elements.  

Due to the many special feats that Tane had achieved his brothers agreed that he deserved something in recognition. The youngest brother Ruaumoko was tasked with gifting Tane a tamoko.  

The burning process used in this recognises the lava of Ruaumoko as it cut its way through his skin.  

Ruaumoko sent his lava down to burn through Tane to create the beginnings of some of the very first kowhaiwhai designs used throughout maori carving and art - puhoro, raperape (in the rope), koru, manaia and te ara poutama.  

Puhoro - speaks of the beginning of Tanes journey into the heavens and the many trials and challenges he had to overcome 

Raperape - mass and void depicting darkness and light. Depicting the universe and the journey of Tane to reach Te Toi o nga Rangi (uppermost heaven) 

Koru - represents Tanes return from the heavens when he began pro-creating with the environment 

Manaia - here represents all of the birds of Tane singing to him again to help ease the pain of his tamoko. Manaia can also represented as sea creatures and reptiles. Tanes older brother Tangaroa is represented and acknowledged in paua as the eye of the manaia. 

Te Ara Poutama - represents Tanes ascention into the heavens to retrieve the four baskets of knowledge and also the sacred kohatu  

Ruatepupuke would later bring other designs with him, from deep within the ocean, that he fetched from Te Ananui a Tangaroa.  

Tanes older brother Haumietiketike was asked to recite ancient karakia to help ease the pain during Tanes tamoko. He is seen here, represented in green, as he sends his fingers and arms to embrace his brother and comfort him. The colour also represents his karakia flowing over his brother. Haumietiketike agreed to do this because Tane sheltered him when Tangaroa threatened to drown him after the great separation of Rangi and Papa.  

There are also other natural patterns made by nga iro (woodworm) as they helped to adorn Tane with their whakairo.  

The darkened wood also represents the damage that is being done to Papatuanuku by climate change and is a warning for us to tread lightly on Papa to reduce our eco- footprint. The ability to turn the pou represents that this is a global issue and not confined to Aotearoa. 

The nail represents the coming of man and the damage that has been done to the forests of Tane by humankind but, also the hard work that has been done by some to help in the regeneration of our forests."

PRICE: NZD $10,000.00

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