Toku Ipukarea

Ipukarea: ancestral home, homeland, native land - significant water or geographical feature of a tribe's homeland relating to the tribe's identity and the source of their livelihood. Describes a body of water within a vessel, a place that represents the history and emotional attachment of the tribe, a place central to the identity of the people where they can go to be rejuvenated, a place that represents the hopes and aspirations of the people, the lifegiving waters from which they drink. (www.maoridictionary.co.nz) These paintings are explorations of New Zealand places and landscapes I have an intimate knowledge of, affection for and experience with. They are mountains, beaches, oceans and rivers that I have lived with and long for. The paintings examine my attachment to landforms; in particular, the wild and strong landforms that shelter, sustain, threaten and inspire those who live there, understanding that the land does not belong to us, but we belong to the land. They were exhibited at The Fisher Brown Gallery, 57 9th avenue, Tauranga, New Zealand from the 23rd January until the 6th February 2009.

Duane J Moyle