770mm w x 960mm h

15 signed & numbered unframed archival prints

190gsm enhanced matt stock

handsprayed stencilled Huia with hand sprinkled glitter effect

handsprayed stencilled kupu MATE

I have always avoided doing pieces that include our extinct species, particularly because we wiped them out and it's a sad and frustrating indictment on our species. My feelings for our actions remain the same, but I wanted to do a piece about Huia and how the beauty, uniqueness, curiosity and partnership dependency led to it's unfortunate demise.

'The Book of the Huia' by W.J.Phillipps, was gifted to my father by his parents on Christmas 1964. I've always been fascinated by the photos and illustrations within. Folded and secured under the front side of the tattered dust cover, huia newspaper clippings collected over two decades by my grandfather and father, lay in rest. I've redrawn and relayed these illustrations for the background of this print. In addition, concept sketches, my style, join these historical portraits. Buller, Walter is here too. I have redrawn this portrait from one found online, in scribbles and fine lines, thus giving an ere of time, a mood. His quote taken from source, with no sauce. This too, of its time.

MATE (te reo māori)
be dead, deceased, killed, be overcome, be extinguished

MATE (te reo pākehā)
an animal's pairing, a friend, a companion, a romantic partner

Both the te reo māori and te reo pākehā meanings  are applicable in this artwork. Huia were known to mate for life. The needed each other to survive. Te Tāne was good at hammering and breaking the rotten wood for kai, te Wahine was good at reaching and securing the kai for consumption. Without one, the other was not.

Mate o te Huia
Ki te taha mauī, ko te wahine
On the left, the female
Ki te taha matau, ko te tāne
On the right, the male

MATE
Togetherness
MATE
Pairing
MATE
Companion
MATE
Lover

He tohu o aroha
A symbol of love
He tohu o mauri ora
A symbol of life

MATE
Overcome
MATE
Vanquished
MATE
Extinguished
MATE
Dead

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