Hello again - Back to slide in a few more pics of previous work...
Harro & Benzart: Thanks for that! Wasnt sure just how interesting (or irrelevant) this thread might be to others; nice to hear that there may be interest... Tried viewing your earliest thread Benzart but it seems that pics may have been removed after a time..? Or am I just not giving my underpowered PC time to download?
A few more to whet your whistle...
My first ever Tiki!(about 9 years ago, approx 3 1/2 x 3inches) Probably why I started carving actually, I REALLY wanted a kick-ass non-trad Hei-tiki for myself but there just want anything available. Even if there was I certainly wouldnt have been able to afford it in those days! Carved this in my bedroom, sort of hanging out of the window. It is made from the jawbone of a spermwhale. Had no idea how to carve, bought a small Dremel tool/handpiece & went to work... If you dont know, the dust from this stuff STINKS LIKE A WET DOG!!! *Retch. Wasnt very popular with my flatmates, haha!! The eyes are inlaid with the first pounamu that I ever carved too... Butchered those into shape with ordinary steel files and ordinary tungsten steel drill bits!-DRY!!hahaha Really had no idea, plenty of passion but... Really love this guy & would never part with him...
Another shot of my personal Hei-tiki, showing just how dark this stone really is. I made this lovely lady in 2004 to commemorate the birth of my son, Te Koha... I gave the tiki I wore prior to this, to nearly wife to wear throughout the pregnancy. During the pregnancy I made this new one for myself & wore a beautiful wee pebble found around the time of conception. Gave the pebble-pendant to my new baby boy on his birthday & allowed myself to wear this dark girl for the first time, phew..!
Its all about geneology with Maori hei-tiki! He represents the ultimate ancestor, the first Man, a Maori version of biblical Adam if you will... Im sure you are aware that Hei-tiki were traditionally gifted down the generations & were considered to accumulate the 'Mana' of successive wearers. To this day in my family it is known from childhood, who is going to inherit certain old family pieces...
Jumping ahead in time to just a few months ago... Just a wee fella at about 1 1/2 inches high. This year has seen a change in direction for my Hei-tikis. I have spent the last couple of years refining my own version of very traditional 'authentic' Maori Hei-tiki but have tired a little of this and have started to mix it up a bit...
*I am involved in an exhibition scheduled to show in early 2007, but deadline for submitting work is in a couple of months. I have been setting aside some special pieces for the past few months to include in this show & will add pics of them when they are closer to being finished. *You might have to watch this space for 'Tiki with Taiaha' Paipo, haha...
Take care all! Tamapoutini
