Queenstown's FIRST and ONLY Urban, Contemporary Art Gallery

Explore urban and street art for sale at The Arts Hole, a leading contemporary art gallery in Queenstown, New Zealand. Our curated collection features bold, modern artworks from local and internationally recognised artists.

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Mini Wheku

$110.00 NZD

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Each Wheku has been constructed as a ceramic casting the original carving and then has 4 coats of paint applied and then having paua inlay eyes inserted. Each piece is completely made by hand and the process takes up to 5 days to complete, making every one unique.

Messini's pieces are about a merging of traditional Toi Maori, in particular whakairo rakau (wood carving) with contemporary mediums such as resin and cast stone and an engaging colour pallet. She uses vintage carving as well as one recently commissioned by Master Carver Michael Matchitt (Wheku Tahi) and carves her own smaller pieces, creating a new journey.

Wheku

Is a carved face that represents an important ancestor (tupuna) or a guardian (kaitiaki) and is traditionally found at the apex of the gable at the front of a meeting house watching over everyone. It has a Pukana, (protruding tongue), an expression that communicates deep felt emotion in waiata and kapa haka

Dimensions:

Width - 72mm x Height - 112mm x Depth - 18mm

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