Waka Huia | Feather Vessel

A "wakahuia" is a container for holding valuables, but this also means "feather boat" in New Zealand Māori. Our work is a translucent vessel bearing a cargo of lightness. A cargo of the spirit.

Our 'vessel' formed from the scan of a feather of the extinct New Zealand bird, the Huia (Heterralocha acutirostris) is combined with drawings by Sonja.
The huia bird was last sighted in the 1920s but its feathers and body have travelled the world, following the trade routes of colonialism.

Seven skins are in the Leiden Natural History museum, the city where the artists live. These were acquired from a museum in Germany, from an auction house in London and from museums and collections in New Zealand.

For the Rijns Water (Water from the Rhine) exhibition we had water from the Rhine that flows through Leiden poured into this.

Try-outs with lighting for a proposal, 2010





Edition of 35. Each 'waka huia' comes with a certificate. 250 Euros plus postage + packing (+/- 20 Euros).