Tawhiao en rouge, LD #27

I roto i tēnei toi kei te puritia e Kīngi Tāwhiao te wāhi – kei te muramura te kano whero ki runga i te papa matāpango. Kei te miramirahia ngā rārangi rauiti o tāna tā moko, tāngia e te penerākau, hei tae tauaro. Ko tēnei hanga kōhure, e hono ana i te ao whakaroto ki te ao whakawaho, he mea e pupuri nei i te hanga kiko ānō nei he ihu me he waha, heoi anō he tohutoro ki te hau o te rangatira.

Ko ngā toi a James Ormsby he toi kaitā, he whakamahi i te matāpango, i ngā tae māori, i ngā kano tawhito, i te hinu. Kei te whakaūhia āna toi e te rangahau, e aro ana ki ōna tīpuna Māori, ki āna kōrero Māori.

In this work King Tāwhiao holds the space – the vivid red pigment resonant against an atmospheric graphite ground. The fine detail of his tā moko (facial tattoo), drawn in pencil, is highlighted in contrast. This distinct form, connecting inner and external worlds, holds within it not only the physical likeness of nose and mouth, but also suggests the living hau (breath, vitality) of the rangatira (chief).

James Ormsby typically works on a large scale, using graphite, natural ochres and traditional pigments, and oil. His work is underpinned by a depth of research, addressing his Māori tīpuna (ancestors) and histories.

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