Te Manu-i-te-rā

The bird of the sun

, the bird of the sun, recalls the ancient pare that measures time and space. Its central presence is Tāne, whose lifting of Ranginui from Papatūānuku opened the world to Te Ao Mārama. From that first dawn came Tama-nui-te-rā — the radiant being whose light carries life, energy, nourishment, and the knowledge that shapes our understanding of the world. In this figure, the flight of the sun-bird becomes a reminder of the pathways opened by creation and the learning that follows its light.
Acrylic and gold foil on canvas
800 x 1440mm