Roropupū

Hikurangi Edwards (Of Ngāruahine, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāpuhi descent) meticulously hand-carves into layers upon layers of paint from her Wellington studio, a technique she calls mahi whakairo peita. Often guided by her tīpuna, she uses contrasting colours to acknowledge contemporary lifestyles, whilst telling stories of the past, present, & future. The soft, yet confident curves of the koru give depth & texture, drawing you in to an art that must be touched. All of which speaks to the dichotomy of the two worlds she navigates. 

The koru facing up and down and crossing over depict their crossing the land. Sometimes parties went ahead, or some followed after. Families were lost. Times were tough but the aim is to never forget. 

20cm x 20cm x 5cm depth