"Tauhuna3.0"

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Growing up in an urban environment meant that I was more influenced by popular culture as opposed to Māori culture. Like other kids my age I was into video games and cartoons and played with my G.I. Joes with the occasional trip to the bush to play bow and arrows or ninjas.
Although I identified as being Māori, there was no physical evidence of anything Māori… besides the Poi e single on vinyl that is. So my work has a lot to do with identity – how we form it, hide it and reveal it.
Our carved traditions are full of narrative - and tells the story about the person that has been carved - it identifies who they are and where they are from - both anecdotally and visually.
Super heroes have always been a part of popular culture… concealing their identity behind the mask in order to protect themselves and others. The fusion within Tauhuna3.0 creates an interesting tension – a mask that both declares and conceals identity.