Whakaarara
200mm

Represented here is Whakaarara at Matauri Bay – wahi tapu (sacred) to the Tangata whenua of Whangaroa.

Crowned with a plume above and manaia below pushing up to the surface, the white clay of which this whenua (land) is renowned for.

Mauri ora

Whakaarara ki roto
200mm

Another perspective of this sacred maunga, this time an internal perspective with manaia, waterways and spirit trails.

Te Huia
200mm

This is the maunga Te Huia, situated east, above the Kaeo township. Herstory is one of sacrifice and courage.

Emiemi 
300mm

This is Emiemi, my ancestral maunga that rises above Pupuke. They say in my culture that nga atua (gods) reside at the top of our maunga, how fitting.
Here the internal organs of Emiemi are represented using manaia to symbolise the life force and sacred waters that flow within and without.

Rangi and Papa
300 mm

In this piece Ohakiri (St Paul's) on the Whangaroa Harbor is represented. Rangi and Papa (Sky father and Earth mother) are depicted – connecting the spiritual world above with the physical world below.

The resin colored and poured by Christopher Lamb provides another unique and interesting surface where male/female elements compliment and manifest.

Creation
300mm

Here the life force is captured as tectonic plates deep within the earth. Layers of rock, minerals, time and pressure all combining  to create this force of nature.

Lithium series 1
Resin and acrylic on board
200 mm

Essentially this series represents the energy these life forms harness and release, like a lithium battery.

Lithium series 2
Resin and acrylic on board
300 mm

Lithium series 3
Resin and acrylic on board
400 mm

Lithium series 4
Resin and acrylic on board
400 mm

Lithium set of 3

Manaia
Resin and acrylic paint on board
400 mm

Manaia are traditionally tribal guardians. The bird like head representing the sky and the spirit world - Birds are seen as vehicles for the souls of the departed as they travel to the afterlife.
The tail is that of a fish to represent the sea, while the body joins the two together to represent the whenua.
Depicted in profile, half in the spiritual and half in the physical world, here they are embedded deep in the whenua as receivers and generators of life.

Manaia series 1
Resin and acrylic on board
300 mm

Manaia series 2
Resin and acrylic on board
200 mm

Manaia set of 3

Whaariki
300 mm

The woven mat in the foreground acts like a platform from which you take a leap of faith into the river of life.

Whakapapa
Resin and acrylic paint on borad
400 mm

This piece reminded me of whakapapa flowing through our veins and arteries. 
It alerted me to the Crown processes inflicted upon our people. To remain clear in our hearts and minds that our Whakapapa is inextinguishable.
That above all else it is what connects us to each other and to this whenua – ake tonu ake....

 

Pounamu series 1
Resin and acrylic on board
300 mm

Washed down from the glacier capped peaks of the southwest coast of Aotearoa, mountain streams and rivers carry this highly prized stone down to the shore. A hard, translucent green rock that tupuna (ancestors) carved into blades for both tools and weapons. 

The translucent, multi-faceted effects of coloured resin poured over kowhaiwhai pattern reflect the visual qualities of Pounamu. Shades of green also echo that of rushing water.     

Pounamu series 2
Resin and acrylic on board
300 mm

Pounamu series 3
Resin and acrylic on board
400 mm

The Blue Marlin
800 mm

The moana is of great significance as the food basket of the iwi (people) and it is Tangaroa who holds dominion over the sea. Kaitiaki or guardian spirits have many representations but the most common are animals, birds, insects and fish.

Here the Blue Marlin a Whaingaroa Kaitiaki symbol of reverence and awe.  Sadly these majestic  kaitiaki can be found strung up at the wharf as game trophies.
Evidence of our exploitation and conceived dominion over the natural world.

The Blue Marlin

Being worked by Christopher Lamb