The inspiration for this mahi toi never gets old.

The tohu (signs and symbols) used in these paintings represent an experience I had, ‘One night fishing’ on Whangaroa Harbour. Here I strive visually to express the physical, emotional and spiritual experience that remains with me some 15 years later.

Not only was it transformational on a personal level, but it also provided me artistically with a source of visual content/context that I adapt, evolve and shift so no matter how many times I recall this story, no two paintings are the same.

So profound was the experience, I also turned my hand to the written word in the form of poetry. It’s not my first medium of choice for self-expression, but here it goes!

Insignificant and tiny

floating in a little dinghy, striving

the thrill of the hunt, driving

sun setting, night falls

oh blimey!

The gentle rise and fall of the dinghy

above the velvet depths rise up to engulf me.

What am I sensing, what am I seeing?

Internal landscape, creative soul stirring.

Formless darkness falling

I watch the whenua, moving, rising

Life force igniting, neon silhouette shining.

Multitudes of pin holes blinding

blot the night sky with loving eyes finding

of fear and awe, are feelings binding.

Colour expresses what words cannot

In shades of electric blues and purples

the glowing white light cuts the surface.

Whakapapa flowing, wairua glowing

held within the whenua, in truth knowing.

Genetic memories and a star falling

cosmic ancestor, Tawhaki recalling

ancestral knowledge held within us all, stalling.

I hear from the shore the ruru calling

preying, stalking, wairua guiding.

Emiemi, Taratara and Ohakiri – silent sentinels stand before and above me

Anchor stones of heart and soul, home to Pupuke off I go!