Tōku Tuahine - My older sister

Artwork Statement

A work grounded in whakapapa, remembrance, and kaitiakitanga.

Portraying the artist’s older sister, the work extends beyond portraiture into a meditation on stewardship, not simply as guardianship, but as the active responsibility of carrying inherited knowledge, identity, and wairua forward through time.

Through weathered stone like textures, fractured gold seams, and layered kōwhaiwhai, Kiwikiwi creates a surface that feels carried through generations, where memory, culture, and responsibility remain living presences within the contemporary world.

Guided by the whakataukī “Huia e, huia tāngata kotahi,” the huia birds woven throughout the composition become a reflection on both unity and fragility, reminding us that what is sacred must also be protected.

Limited Edition Print

This giclée archival print comes from a hand-signed edition of just 25 per size. Printed on Museum grade fine art paper, each work is crafted to last and available in a range of sizes to suit your space.

Details

• Printed on Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350 gsm natural white Matte
• 100% cotton with a finely textured surface
• Matte premium inkjet coating for exceptional print quality 
• Acid and lignin free
• ISO 9706 certified museum quality for maximum longevity
• Long lasting high quality Epson UltraChrome pigment inks 
• Designed to bring depth, movement, and a classic fine art feel to the work