A beautifully illustrated book that looks at the traditions of bone carving published by Craig Potton Publishing earlier this month .
Brian Flintoff is a master carver and the author of Kura Koiwi: Bone Treasures. Brian’s been carving for more than 35 years and his work is held on marae throughout Aotearoa and in both private and public collections around the world. He’s a pakeha who’s won the support of many prominent Maori, including Sir Tipene O’Reagan who says ‘Brian’s taken an ancient art form and imbued it with new life in a way that we could not have imagined.’
Much of the book looks at how Brian’s understanding grew as his skill as a carver developed. He generously shares these insights and illustrates them with photographs of the work he and others have made. ‘An early design of mine depicted a double koru using cut-outs,’ says Brian, ‘I soon realised that my eyes were pleased by the bone, but my spirit was pleased by the spaces. And when I saw it on someone, with the wearer’s skin showing through the spaces, another dimension became apparent too.’ The ancient carvings held in Museum collections have provided Brian with much inspiration. ‘There’s one with a stylised bird, thought to be a kaka, that’s been an inspiration to me since I first saw a drawing of it. It’s made from a whale tooth and I revisit it when I can. I feel very humble when I consider the detail that was achieved with tools made from bone and stone.’ ‘The wealth of carvings from earlier times gives us a real link to the past, and to other cultures,’ says Brian. ‘A 40,000 year old vulture wing-bone flute from Europe sounds just like an albatross wingbone koauau that can be heard today.’
Much of the book looks at how Brian’s understanding grew as his skill as a carver developed. He generously shares these insights and illustrates them with photographs of the work he and others have made. ‘An early design of mine depicted a double koru using cut-outs,’ says Brian, ‘I soon realised that my eyes were pleased by the bone, but my spirit was pleased by the spaces. And when I saw it on someone, with the wearer’s skin showing through the spaces, another dimension became apparent too.’ The ancient carvings held in Museum collections have provided Brian with much inspiration. ‘There’s one with a stylised bird, thought to be a kaka, that’s been an inspiration to me since I first saw a drawing of it. It’s made from a whale tooth and I revisit it when I can. I feel very humble when I consider the detail that was achieved with tools made from bone and stone.’ ‘The wealth of carvings from earlier times gives us a real link to the past, and to other cultures,’ says Brian. ‘A 40,000 year old vulture wing-bone flute from Europe sounds just like an albatross wingbone koauau that can be heard today.’
Kura Koiwi is an engaging read about a remarkable carver’s career to-date. Brian’s previous book is Taonga Puoro: Singing Treasures which has sold over 9,000 copies.
Kura Koiwi by Brian Flintoff, published by Craig Potton Publishing
RRP $39.99, 132 pp, paperback, ISBN: 978 1 877517 39 6
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