Tohunga Original Painting

"Tohunga"

Mixed Medium Acrylic and Ink, Satin Varnish.

100% cotton canvas 30x30inch dia 1.5inch width 

Signed and Dated

 Story Time:

From the moment I started drawing out the blueprint I felt an instant connection to this piece, as if I was portraying a loved one. The connection grew stronger each time I worked on this piece, a story started to unravel. Something magical, something straight out of a storybook. She reminded me of a beloved tūpuna, a kuia I longed to know before my time. Heres alittle story time for this beautiful piece.

Once there was a tohunga who had lived a long life, filled with magic and knowledge of the universe, of constellations, natural phenomena, plants, trees, weaving and healing. These were the special gifts handed down to her from generation to generation, the tohunga dedicated her life maintaining the old ways and was seen as a beloved leader amongst her people. She would travel near and far sharing her gifts, healing the sick, teaching the young, comforting the mourning and most of all connecting the people. One day, she could hear the calling of her tūpuna, the echoes of the ātua, a calling for her to return home. After a lifetime of traveling near and far she knew it was time to return back to her land, back to her people, back to where it all began... 

We connect through stories and I hope this sweet but short story finds a connection within you. This piece is a beautiful reminder of our tūpuna and the path they created and left behind for us to pick up on and carry through for generations to come.