BAYE RIDDELL MAURI: ESSENCE 20 April - 22 May 2015 pierre peeters galleries 45 SHORTLAND ST, VERO CENTRE, AUCKLAND CBD +64 9 3774832 WWW.PIERREPEETERSGALLERY.COM
BAYE RIDDELL MAURI: ESSENCE
Ngati Porou, Te whanau a Rautaupare Baye Riddell uses terracotta clay from his family land at Te Puia Springs, and prepares it in ways that reflect his care and respect for this material. Baye has made a range of both glazed and unglazed ware over his career. For large exhibition pieces like Nga Korero a Kawari, and these three new Pou from the current Mauri exhibition, Riddell prefers to leave the clay unglazed so that it can ‘speak for itself.’ Here he continues his 2014 Pou series titled Seven Days, which was acquired by The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa late last year. These Pou are totemic pieces signifying the three principles and foundations - Kaitiakitanga which translates to guardianship, Whanaungatanga which translates to family, and Noho Whenua which means occupancy. Riddell employs the use of much texture in these organic / monolithic, Contemporary yet at the same time somehow ancient Pou. With these latest works he has painted more than ever before of the East Coast New Zealand Clay that is his medium with white adding a beautiful gohstly element to the formal totemic sculptures. These are the largest Ceramic works that Baye Riddell has made to date. Born 1950, Tokomaru Bay. Baye Riddell began his vocation as a ceramicist in 1973 and has been working as a full-time ceramicist ever since. Baye attended Otago University in Dunedin, returning to his home in Tokomaru Bay in 1977 where is currently based. He has tutored extensively throughout New Zealand in tertiary institutions and on marae. Riddell has run many art workshops establishing community, national and international networks. He has exhibited widely and has been represented in many public and private collections. front and inside cover: detail: Richard Killeen, People Passing 1969
In his work Baye Riddell explores Christian and Maori themes and the links between them. For Baye, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ is an expression of Christian belief in Christ’s victory over death. He sees a parallel between this belief and the story in Maori mythology of Maui’s quest for immortality. Gateways are also a central theme in his work, with their symbolic meanings of challenge, decision, and the unknown. In 1987, he co-founded Nga Kaihanga Uku, a Maori clayworkers’ organisation. In 1989, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to establish an exchange with Native American artists. His work was selected for “Te Waka Toi: Contemporary Māori Art,” which toured theUnited States from 1992 to 1994. Baye travelled to the USA with colleague Manos Nathon, this visit resulted in ongoing international networks, exchange visits and exhibitions with native American artists and ceramicists which he is embarking on again another trip to North America and Alaska this week. He also travelled to China and Korea in 2001 as a guest artist for the World Ceramics Expo. He is co-founder of the group Kai Hanga Uku, Maori Ceramic artists and continues to spread the gospel through his work according to the principles of Christianity and Maoritanga. ”Mine is a simple clay - rugged and spiritual. My clay I dig from a swamp on ancestral family land and is prepared with care and respect.” “I dig my clay from family land on the East Coast. Each piece is won from the clay and the fire – wood firing produces subtle nuances in the colour, and is an immediate process also tied to the land. The clay has taken me on a journey over the last 30 years that has been very satisfying and rewarding, taking me to many parts of the world and meeting wonderful people.” Written by Claire Ullenberg
1. Toa I – Warrior White East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 800 x 300 x 300 (depth) mm
2.Toa II – Warrior Black East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 600 x 300 x 300 (depth) mm
3. Pou I (Kaitiakitanga / Guardianship) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic,  2000 x 600 x 400 mm
4. Pou II (Whanaungatanga / Family) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic,  2000 x 600 x 400 mm
5.Pou III (Noho Whenua / Occupancy) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 2000 x 600 x 400 mm
6. PATU (CLUB) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 1300 x 450 x 450 (depth) mm
7. Kaitiaki East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 1300 x 450 x 450 (depth) mm
BAYE RIDDELL
MAURI: ESSENCE
Ngati Porou, Te whanau a Rautaupare
1. Toa I – Warrior White East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 800 x 300 x 300 (depth) mm
$3,250
2.Toa II – Warrior Black East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 600 x 300 x 300 (depth) mm
$3,000
3. Pou I (Kaitiakitanga / Guardianship) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 2000 x 600 x 400 mm
$8,000
4. Pou II (Whanaungatanga / Family) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 2000 x 600 x 400 mm
$8,000
5.Pou III (Noho Whenua / Occupancy) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 2000 x 600 x 400 mm
$8,000
6. PATU (CLUB) East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 1300 x 450 x 450 (depth) mm
$4,750
7. Kaitiaki East Coast NZ Clay, Ceramic, 1300 x 450 x 450 (depth) mm
$1,850
20 April - 22 May 2015 pierre peeters galleries 45 SHORTLAND ST, VERO CENTRE, AUCKLAND CBD +64 9 3774832 WWW.PIERREPEETERSGALLERY.COM