Each Te Manu I Te Rã has been constructed as a ceramic casting of 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.
Te Manu I Te Rã
Te Manu-i-te-rã, also known as the bird of the sun, was used to describe the movement of the sun across the sky.
