Tōtara Kumete - Manu
Tōtara Kumete - Manu

Tōtara Kumete - Manu

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te manu e kai ana

This kumete, brought to life through recycled timber, is in the form of a manu (bird). There are many layers to this symbolism. Traditionally, birds were a rich food source for Māori, and so a feast could easily be had using a kumete such as this filled with the goodness of nurturing kai from the ngahere.

Likewise, the tara tara ā kai surface-patterning around the rim is also in specific reference to food. The raperape on the bird's thighs speaks to the energy gained from the sustenance of good kai.

On a metaphorical level, we can think of the whakataukī:

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōnā te ngāhere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōnā te ao
The bird that feasts on the miro berry has the forest
The bird that feast on knowledge has the world

 

615mm x 175mm x 120mm 1.6kg