Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge

Carved in wood. Detail from Nuku Tewhatewha (pataka, or storehouse) exhibited at The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Image: Su Leslie, 2016

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.

Honoring nature with technology. Detail Mahoe Leaf (artist, Jeff Thomson). Laser-cut and screen-printed corrugated iron. Image: Su Leslie, 2016

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.

Detail, The Firebush 5, cast glass by artist Evelyn Dunstan. Image: Su Leslie, 2013

Detail; Seedlings, by Juliette Laird. Hand-knitted leaves on wire-wrapped stems. Exhibited at Harbourview Sculpture Trail, 2014. Image: Su Leslie, 2014

 

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(1) Nuku Tewhatewha at The Dowse