TIM WHAITIRI-HENDERSON
Introducing Tim Whaitiri-Henderson (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kahungunu).
Tim is an emerging artist and a master’s graduate from the Eastern Institute of Technology. While finishing his studies in 2019 he completed panels for Te Ara o Tāwhaki, the marae on campus and learnt from the master carvers on-site how to design in layers.
As a graphic designer by trade, Tim has engaged his computer skillsets in the designing of patterns for his works which are executed on plywood using a laser-cuter.
He views the making, construction and reconstruction of his artwork as symbolic of his own reconstruction, having recently developed a well-being practice alongside his creative practice.
The layering of his lightbox panels takes his advanced kowhaiwhai skills into a three-dimensional presentation. Each lightbox is representative of an atua and as the viewer moves around the lightbox, the complexity of light play within the artwork is revealed.