Nga Manu Tangitangi

Gabrielle Belz, Artist

This is one of the paintings in our collection. It was made in Whanganui, Whanganui Region, Aotearoa New Zealand in 1995.
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Object Detail


About the Work
The title of this word can be translated as follows: manu means bird and tangitangi means to cry, mourn or make a sound (verb) or to sound, salute or wave (noun).

I see this work as a choir of birds (tui, owl and huia) lamenting the deforestation of the Whanganui River Valley. The Rata is in bloom but skeleton trees tumble over red parched hills, the river is golden brown - revelling in the shadow of its spirit taniwha. That's my thoughts based on recollections of the artist's brief description.
- Bill Milbank 2/6/2008
Measurements
Frame 1245 x 1250 x 25mm
Image 1225 x 1225mm
Media
acrylic and gold leaf on board
Description
Image of native NZ birds: a large tui with a huia, owl and saddleback in the background. Much of the foreground is bright red with a swathe of black across it. On the black is a gold leaf 'figure'. In the upper left corner is a flowering pohutukawa tree. The design is stylised with sweeping curves.
Credit Line
Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Purchased, 1995
Collection Type
Permanent collection
Acquisition Date
06 Nov 1995

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Accession Number:
1996/1/1