Fragment portrait; Hemi
Medium: New Zealand jade
Dimensions: 230 mm x 185 mm x 130 mm
Year: 2002
Sold at Intrude Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Background: This portrait of a Maori has a Greek fret pattern etched and painted across the face as a ta moko. The carving represents the cross culture between Maori and Pakaha prevalent in New Zealand. Here the fret pattern is used as a symbol for the beginnings of the European / Western culture.
The portrait apparently is a good likeness and is the result of the sitter patiently spending hours while he was photographed, drawn and rendered in a clay maquette before the realisation of the carving itself. As the carving progressed it was checked against the living image.
This piece is significant in that it may be the first time a portrait of a Maori has been produced in the European style in pounamu. In Maori terms the upoko or head is tapu and should not be touched and I appreciated that I was trusted to produce this piece.
The inspiration for a fragment or broken portrait came from an ancient Greek carving I saw and videoed in Athens. I wanted to create a relic for New Zealand that was of traditional Maori stone of a Maori person with some reference to Pakeha culture. The light colouring on the stone imitates the calcification found in ancient Chinese tomb jades.
Kia ora Hemi for your time and trust.