Much of the art that I admire, especially sculpture, is large in scale. When a work is expansive, it is easy to ignore the many small details which must work together to form the work as a whole.
For Sally’s challenge this week (at Lens and Pens by Sally) the theme is macro and I’ve chosen to focus on the forms, textures, colours and lines found in the detail of larger works of art, all created by artists and craftsmen of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The shot above is of one small detail in the carved barge board of a traditional Maori food storage house, or pataka. This particular pataka was made in 1856 by master carver Horonuku, of Ngati Tuwharetoa, and his team. (1) It is now on permanent exhibition at The Dowse Art Musuem in Lower Hutt.
Jeff Thomson is an Auckland artist who has become best known for his sculptures made from corrugated iron. His Mahoe Leaf above, is laser-cut and screen-printed.
Leaf forms also provide inspiration for artists Evelyn Dunstan and Juliette Laird. Like Jeff Thomson, they are working in human-made materials; in this case glass and fibre. By capturing honestly the lines and forms of nature in the tiny details in larger works, we recognise the known, and can enjoy the artists’ creative explorations of nature and human intervention.
(1) Nuku Tewhatewha at The Dowse
I love all of these, Su!
janet
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Thanks Janet. It was fun trawling through the images I’ve taken of art works.
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Beautiful shots!
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Thank you 🙂
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With knitted leaves and Gildersleeves my love came, purple and yarning.
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🙂 Admission of ignorance here. Should I be admiring your lyrical way with words or your knowledge of poetry. It’s a lovely phrase either way.
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That first thing!
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You have my admiration. But tell me; gildersleeves? I’ve seen it as a surname. Tell me it’s some wonderfully Shakespearean term for something.
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Ha! I wish (very much) I could say it’s something wonderful and Shakespearian and all that, but the truth is it just occurred to me in the moment!
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Even cooler 😃
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Thanks!
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Lovely, Su.
Leslie
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Su, what an inspirational set of images that evoke the artists’s connection to nature. I’m especially drawn to Thomson’s “Mahoe Leaf” with its detail and replication of weathering (or insects). Happy Photo Challenge.
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Thanks Sally 🙂
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Wonderful photos Su.
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Thanks Raewyn 😃
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Especially love the fire bush in glass. Gorgeous color.
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Thanks Angeline. Evelyn Dunstan does amazing things with glass. So complex in terms of process, and so elegant in result. 🙂
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Oh wow! These look all so beautiful! But I especially love the hand-knitted leaves – catched my heart right away 😉 So lovely! Ah, how I just love art inspired by nature…always so magnificent…!!! 🙂 Have a lovely weekend, Su! xxxxxxx
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I’m glad you like these Sarah. I think you would really like the artist who made them too. She is a really inspirational woman; a teacher as well as an artist. I photographed a workshop she did with primary school children a couple of years ago. She was just wonderful with the kids. And in her own art practice, she is very clever at taking everyday, quite domestic materials and transforming them into powerful work. Hope you have a lovely weekend too. xxxx
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I’m sure she is! What an amazing talent! I love how she’s combined the art of knitting with nature’s marvellous creations. Do you know if she’s got her own website or blog? I’d so much love to see more of her work!! Thanks again for sharing, Su! 🙂 xxxxx
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Here is a link to Juliette’s blog https://juliettelaird.wordpress.com/. Or you could do an image search on her name. Enjoy. I love sharing information about artists — and Juliette is not only very talented, but a really lovely person. Hope you’re having a great weekend Sarah. xxxx
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Thank you so much, Su! I’m hopping over to her blog and do that image search next thing! 😀 Have a wonderful Sunday! xxxxx
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I am a fan of all of your Macro!
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Thanks so much Amanda. And thank’s for your email; I’ll answer as soon as I’m at my computer.
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The last photo is beautiful
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Wow!
Very stunning photos!
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Wow. Really stunning pictures!
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Thank you 🙂
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