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resident artist

Connection to the land, majesty of nature, and a fascination with themes universal to ‘first nation’ cultures are the greatest influences on Anton Forde’s work.

Anton Forde at his workshop, Forde Gallery, on Waiheke Island.

Kāmaka (stone)

the making of the works for the exhibition “Kāmaka” by Forde Gallery’s resident artist, Anton Forde

Ancient stones honour Māori scientific knowledge in eight contemporary sculptures. Collectively named Kāmaka, the works were unveiled, named and blessed by Ngāti Whatua Ōrakei to honour Māori science.

Artist Anton Forde sourced the kāmaka/ancient stones and carved the collection of sculptures between February 2020, the first Covid-19 lockdown in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and May 2022.

These ancient stones often have a whakapapa/ genealogy of millions of years – ōnewa/ basalt from Maungakiekie (Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei); kōkawa/andesite from Maunga Taranaki; pounamu from Dorothy Falls (Ngāti Wae Wae/ Ngāi Tahu) and tūhua/obsidian from Onetangi, Waiheke Island (Ngāti Pāoa).

The Āhua / forms represent figurative forms cloaked in korowai that are carved with Unaunahi, Kōwhiti, and Raukura; straight and curved contemporary Toki Adze shapes; an anchor shape with contemporary whetū/ star lines; and a teardrop shape linking to the story about the separation of Papatūanuku/ mother earth and Ranginui/ Sky Father.