Nefertiti ta ngutu
Medium: New Zealand jade
Dimensions: 460 mm x 285 mm x 260 mm
Year: 2004
For sale
Background: The face of Queen Nefertiti of Egypt is immortalised in clay as can be seen at the Berlin Museum in Germany. As I researched into the background of this iconic image I discovered that there is a widely held belief that her image has been idealised, despite her apparent beauty in real life.
At the same time I was investigating Polynesian ta moko (traditional tattoo). New Zealand Maori have a long history of tattoo both on the face and body. The name of the female ta moko is called ta ngutu. Ta meaning to strike and ngutu the lips. In my study I discovered that the female ta ngutu was considered to particularly erotic, especially the design whakatehe which symbolises an erect phallas. The combination of an idealised beauty and a symbol for eroticism seemed to be suitable companions.
The stone used is New Zealand jade which was selected for its hue and I could visualise Neferiti's head within it.
The ears on the Berlin version are broken, I decided if I should continue with the image as it was or to add ears. As the carving was concerned with idealised beauty it seemed appropriate to include ears. The resolution was to photocopy my own ears and render them on the carving.
Since I created this piece the authenticity of The Berlin Nefertiti has been found to be ingenuine. Apparently it was created in Europe, rather than Egypt and is only a hundred or so years old. This update does change the context of both Nefertiti. It does not detract from the concepts surrounding sensuality and idealism that I am conveying. Now, however, questions concerning originality and authenticity are in play. You cannot deny that Nefertiti ta ngutu is a genuine and authentic art of art. What is the Berlin Nefertiti?