Waka Huia | Feather Vessel

Small object (computer print edition of 35), 2009
by Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff     art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff  
20 x 5 x 3 cm. The size is that of a real Huia feather.

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff
The Slow Flow Show, Greenbench, Whanganui, 2010.

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

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.


art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff
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.


art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff
Try-outs with lighting for a proposal, 2010

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

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

Shown

2009    Rijns Water
Sidac Studio, Leiden,
The Netherlands.

2010The Slow Flow Show
The Green Bench, Whanganui,
Aotearoa | New Zealand.

2011NOTHING TO DECLARE
BLANC COMPOUND,
359 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines
2011At Sea | Op Zee
EAE Gallery, Leiden,
The Netherlands

2015"BinnensteBuiten" (Inside Out)
festival, Leiden,
The Netherlands



art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff
art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff
art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff
art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

art work by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff

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