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It's amazing what corrugated iron, a spiral or two, a bit of wood, a chunk of beef bone, and a piece of shell can say about New Zealand.

In 1999, in a Queenstown gallery, we came across the work of Jeff Thomson (and subsequently in Te Papa, Wellington.) Unusual to be sure, not to mention unique. Have you listened to the sound of heavy rain on a corrugated iron roof? It may seem a strange association, but it is a powerful one for me as I spent several years as a student in wood-built colonial style houses with such roofing. It is a soothing, somehow comforting sound, and one captured for all time in these iron "lace" wall sculptures made in 1997:

You probably can't make it out from the photo, but the iron is imprinted with various newspaper clippings relating to (surprise) corrugated iron! There were 7 pieces on the gallery wall; we bought three. I wonder what became of the others...

In 2005, in a Napier gallery, we were struck by the carvings of Josh and Amelia from Wanaka. My piece, Hei Pa-Kahawai, "an ancient lure", is composed of Blue Rata wood, NZ paua sheel, beef bone, and a hand-braided waxed nylon cord. My wife's piece, Manawa Ora, "the soul of life", is composed of beef bone and a hand-braided waxed nylon cord:

Beautiful reminders of a beautiful country. Note that the koru motif features in both sets of work. This spiral shape is derived from the unfolding fern fronds that populate New Zealand's native bush:

The modern mythology concerning the koru is that it represents new beginnings, growth, or life (at least that satisfies the tourists!)

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