Dusky Maiden
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All works printed by the artist on Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper and K3 Archival Inks.
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She started as an homage to the naughty old boy Charlie McPhee, and his romanticisation and sexualisation of the pacific female. But somehow I wondered off and found a bigger story. This woman is a celebration of the spirit of New Zealand, the power of women, the struggles of maori women and the need for Aotearoa to be consciense and careful of the large nations who would have us be their pacific pawns and lapdogs. I detect a desire by China and America to divy up the pacific into a quasi military chess game. Kia Tupato is NZ army legend, suggesting it is important to be aware and cautious. Right now it is important for NZ to put a stake in the ground and remain neutral. We have US troops coming to our shores for the first time in decades, and a visit from a US coast guard ship, these could be considered mendacious moves to reintroduce us to the US military machine. Dusky Maiden is my prayer that we as a community retain what was so hard for us to establish via our nuclear legislation - separation from a giant military bondage. We have been an extraordinary nation attempting to live in a world nation with integrity. We hold a special place, because of this in the minds of many. But do we have the balls to fend off the cash of China and the mendacity of right wing America who could take that reputation away from us. We need to be cautious of political alliances for short term gain and photo opportunities.
Kia Tupato indeed. Be cautious Aotearoa.
