Sculpture Takes Flight At South Auckland Library

Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 10:10 pm
Article: Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter

A new sculpture in south Auckland, inspired by Māori imagery and promoting harmony, portrays the rich history of the community, the artist says.

Jadyn Flavell’s 4 metre-high Te Manu Ka Rewa sculpture was unveiled at the Manurewa Library last December.

The 35-year-old is an emerging Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua-mandated iwi artist.

"It was a big journey for me," Flavell said.

"I knew if I was going to represent historical events, it required me to learn a lot of our history," he said.

He was guided by his late-grandfather, kaumatua and carver George Flavell (Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua), who died before he finished the project.

He carved the sculpture using a swamp kauri his late grandfather gifted him.

"It's pretty awesome to have it finally actualised in real life, after talking about it, drawing pictures and thinking about it for a long period of time."

Flavell's $100,000-sculpture combined traditional Māori arts with the hand carved central pou, combined with other fabricated components like steel elements and lighting.

He said he was inspired by the puuraakau (traditional oral narratives), designs, techniques and tikanga of his culture, which he interweaved with his own artistic style.

"I hope I can communicate the intention I put into it, about the importance of working together as communities, recognising our diversities as people.

"Even though its designed with Māori aesthetics, that's a big part of it too, but I really wanted to speak more of the diversity of the various people that make up Manurewa."

Te Manu Ka Rewa (the bird that is elevated) was named by Te Huia Cowell (Ngaati Te Ata).

It was inspired by the whakatauki ‘Maa te kahukura ka rere te manu’, (It is through the feathers that the bird takes flight).

Flavell said like a bird in flight, every feather worked in harmony to create the lift needed to soar.

This wouldn't be achieved by a single feather, but together, feathers carried the bird to greater heights – a beautiful metaphor for communities and coming together to prosper, he said.

The sculpture was a dynamic presence at night, when various aspects of the sculpture are lit in a complex lighting design, expressing different parts of the puuraakau.

The installation was commissioned by Auckland Council's public art department, to encourage work by mana whenua artists in south Auckland.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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