Mere Lodge

Te- Toka-a-Torea

Artwork Detail

Ko tā tēnei toi rauwhero iti, angiangi hoki nā Mere Harrison Lodge he whakamaumahara i te kōrero me te ingoa o tōna kāinga a Ruatōria. He tangata whai mana a Tōrea, nāna tētahi toka kaitā i huke ki te hanga i tētahi rua, i tētahi taupoki, hei pātaka kūmara. Ko te ingoa tuatahi o te kāinga o te ringa toi a Ruatōria, ko te Rua-a-Tōrea. Ko te aronga nui a Lodge i roto i tēnei tāraitanga rauwhero iti noa iho, ko te kaha o te tangata ki te whakanuku i te toka kaitā rawa.

This small yet busy textured bronze piece by Mere Harrison Lodge recalls the narrative and name of the township of her home Ruatōria. Tōrea was a man of mana (authority) and he built a special rua (food holding) by unearthing an enormous boulder, filling the hole it left with kumara, and fashion a cover to preserve them. Hence the original name of the artist’s hometown – Ruatōria/Rua-a-tōrea. Lodge places emphasis on the strength used to move the monolithic boulder in this concise and efficient bronze sculpture.

Title
Te- Toka-a-Torea
Artist/creator
Mere Lodge
Production date
1963
Medium
bronze with wooden base
Dimensions
170 x 140 mm
Credit line
Courtesy of the artist
Accession no
X2020/73/2
Copyright
Copying restrictions apply
Department
New Zealand Art
Display status
Not on display

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