The Carver and the Artist Maori Art in the Twentieth Century

This investigation into modernist Maori art examines the key artists of the period, such as Arnold Wilson, Para Matchitt, and Selwyn Muru, and others who helped establish a visual response to the rapid urbanization of Maori lands and culture throughout the mid-20th century. Additional research offers insight into the Maori renaissance of the 1970s and how their art served as a means to refocus and preserve their cultural traditions in the face of modern expansion. Art lovers and collectors alike will enjoy this accessible look into an exciting period of Indigenous and Oceanic art. Beautiful photographs of the rarely seen carved artworks, many of which have not yet been published, complement the research.

Damian Skinner is a freelance writer and curator and holds a PhD in Art History from Victoria University. He is the author of Don Binney.