Six bird sculptures inspired by ancestral Māori rock art have landed on the walls of University of Canterbury’s (UC) Engineering and Physical Sciences Library.
Titled Te Whakawhiti, the new art installation by renowned Ngāi Tahu artist, Ross Hemera, evokes vibrancy, connection and discovery through a story grounded in the cultural traditions of Te Waipounamu.
Made from aluminium and different timbers, the six bird sculptures – with wingspans ranging from 690mm to 1870mm – have taken their places across the walls of the library building.
Mr Hemera’s artwork draws particularly on the ancient rock art of Te Waipounamu created by his ancestors.
“Whakawhiti can be interpreted in different ways, including ‘to cross over’ and ‘to shine’. Both interpretations are expressed within the forms, materials and cultural narrative of the work,” says Mr Hemera.
The artwork draws on the legend of Raureka and pounamu. Raureka is remembered for crossing Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (the Southern Alps) from Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast) to the eastern side of Te Waipounamu. Her journey helped reveal a route that later became significant for travel, trade and the movement of pounamu.
“Mahi toi is about storytelling, but it is also about continuing traditions and cultural practices that have come down to us from our ancestors,” Mr Hemera says.
He describes the sculptures as a modern interpretation of the art created by his tīpuna and, as such, an expression of identity. Developed over many months, the installation reflects his wider artistic practice and his longstanding use of timber and aluminium in his artworks.
“I hope people who encounter the work will engage with both its cultural narrative and its creative qualities. I also hope they might find some pleasure and some inspiration in the narrative and add it to their bundle of knowledge about our culture,” he says.
The University says the commission reflects its commitment to increasing the number and variety of Māori artworks in its collection. Executive Director of the Office of Treaty Partnership, Dr Liz Brown, says Mr Hemera was selected as a highly respected senior Ngāi Tahu artist, and the Engineering Library offered the scale needed for his sculptural work.
UC’s Office of Treaty Partnership and its Director, Professor Te Maire Tau, helped develop a brief connecting the work’s cultural narrative with engineering, technology and innovation.
“It wasn’t just about having a beautiful art piece. We wanted the narrative to connect with engineering as well. At its heart, it is about liberation, freedom and innovation through technology, which felt like a really strong theme for engineering,” Dr Brown says.
As students, staff and visitors move through the library, the six birds invite them to pause and look more closely. Their different scales, materials and positions create a sense of quiet excitement, while the story they carry offers a deeper connection to the artistic traditions, journeys and knowledge of Te Waipounamu.
