Artist’s statement
Wendy Naepflin
This artwork reflects our dependence on the elements, and celebrates the continual transformation and adaptation to manage and control our ever-changing environments.
Humans are constantly striving upwards, with our eyes turned to the skies, on individual journeys of necessity and spirituality. Some changes are happily chosen and planned for, but others are more unwelcome, still we must adapt.
The five elemental Meaning To twist, plait, spin or weave are the beginning, continuation and the end of a journey, binding together multiple interactions with the elements.
They are Whenua - bursts of growth, Āngi - flying birds, Ahi - crackling flames, Wai - flowing curls and Wairua - ethereal muka.
Contact: wendy@allflax.nz
Essays
Explore in-depth writing about He Aa I Uta, He Aa I Tai: Weaving the Elements.
Whenu(a), Atua: Returning to Hine-te-iwaiwa through the maternal language of whatu
Dr Hinekura Smith (Te Rarawa, Nga Puhi)
1974 words
The language of weaving resonates deeply with the feminine and maternal body – as long as we use that language.
Ngaa ahuatanga marire mo te koiora - The Elementals essential for life
Ruth Port (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri)
2950 words
A journey of re-connection and knowledge recovery as a group of weavers unravel long lost techniques used by Māori ancestral sail makers.
