Koru Sculptures
This is my second session making a Koru. Koru and spirals are some of the most loved symbols of our artistic vocabulary. They’re found in the art of many cultures around the world and each of these cultures understands their significance and meaning differently.
I really like the balance and colours in this one. It took ages to carve all the stone out of the negative space of the koru!
In Maori design, the greenstone koru has a dual meaning. It is commonly used in Maori art as a symbol of creation because of its fluid circular shape. Based on the unfurling fern frond of the native New Zealand silver fern, the circular shape of the koru conveys the idea of perpetual movement, while it’s inner coil, the corm with rolled up inner leaflets, suggests a return to the point of origin. In the larger scheme, this is a metaphor for the way in which life both changes and stays the same.
Some have determined that the koru represents harmony. Between the chaos of change and calm of the everyday there is a point of equilibrium, a state of harmony in life. In its balanced shape the koru represents this. The koru is also said to represent new life.
Making a sculpture is a bit different to a pendant I am finding. The purpose is different in that it is designed to sit on a desk and not be moved much. This means that more delicate or heavier pieces can be made. Problem solving the method of mounting the sculpture was interesting too. I didn’t like the idea of drilling a hole to stick the mounting rod in initially, however after it is finished it look great and that aspect is not even noticed.
This one is much more delicate, I was lucky it didn’t break actually as there were a few fractures running through it that I didn’t identify before I started Carving.
The wood on the base of these sculptures is Swamp Kauri from the Kaiaua region. It is tens of thousands of years old! It comes up in a beautiful golden colour when polished.
Some information taken from https://www.mountainjade.co.nz/about-jade/greenstone-meanings-and-designs/spiral-koru/
