Koru Bee
Medium: New Zealand jade, steel spring, Canadian jade beads, red silk cord and enamel paint.
Dimensions: 110 x 175 x 175 mm.
Year: 2002
Price: Sold.
Background: This is the classic New Zealand cultural icon produced in New Zealand nephrite decorated with contemporary Koru patterns. The Koru Bee and Cicada Bee utilise the form of the Buzzy Bee, a New Zealand icon, and a further example of cross culture in this country.
Interestingly my fellow students in Australia (on the Masters of Fine Art with Monash University) were puzzled as to why I was portraying a toy as a cultural icon. This demonstrated to me the differences between even apparently similar cultures and the unique nature of New Zealand.