Ko Wai te Waka e Kao Mai Neii (What is this Canoe That Swims My Way). A Homage to Buck Nin
Maker
James Ormsby
Production date
2002
Description
Buck Nin was considered a major figure in the development of contemporary Maori painting. In this work on paper James Ormsby references some of the visual elements common to Nin’s practice. The sense of layering on the two outside panels reflects Nin’s interest in showing the physical characteristics of geology and geography and explores the impact of development on the land. He also integrated ideas of Maori cosmology, particularly the figures of Papatuanuku and Ranginui.
James Ormsby (1957 - ) is of Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato, Te Arawa and Scottish descent. With a bachelor degree in Education, Ormsby returned to New Zealand in 1995 from Australia to assist in the establishment of a tertiary visual art programme. He has since completed a Masters of Fine Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and established himself as ‘a significant voice in contemporary maori art’. His signature use of graphite on large scale works on paper has allowed him to explore, and push the boundaries of drawing as a contemporary medium while integrating Maori themes and subject matter. His work is held in numerous collections including Te Papa Tongarewa and the University of Melbourne.
Object detail
545 x 1440mm (image)
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