'WHAI' Stingray carving by John Collins

'WHAI' Stingray carving by John Collins. Kauri wood, stained and inlaid with Paua shell. 

Approximately 550 x 550 x 80 mm. Conceived and hand carved in Southland, Te Wai Pounamu. 

Whai are considered guardians of the areas where shellfish are gathered by the Whanau a Apanui people of the East Coast of Te Ika a Maui (New Zealand's North Island). They inhabit the coasts and harbours of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

John Collins' sculpture of living creatures is fluid and visually powerful. The Whai carvings connect us to the marine ecosystem these creatures inhabit, evoking its beauty, but also reminding us of its fragility. The Stingray's association with people, places and culture is conveyed through fine surface carving.

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