Stunning New Book on Maori Weaving from Huia Publishers
Media Release
2 August 2005
Huia Publishers in partnership with Toi Maori Aotearoa proudly present The Eternal Thread: The Art of Maori Weaving by Miriama Evans and Ranui Ngarimu with photographs by Norman Heke. This stunning book presents a photographic survey that traverses the concepts and values of traditional Maori weaving through to contemporary weaving practice.
Featuring some of New Zealand's foremost Maori expert weavers, The Eternal Thread: The Art of Maori Weaving celebrates innovation and the development of weaving and plaiting as art forms in modern times while acknowledging the technology developed by weavers through the past centuries.
The initial impetus for this book came from Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa, the National Maori Weavers' Collective. They were keen to see the artistry of the talented weavers in their collective recognised and celebrated. The resulting product, this spectacular book, brings that talent to light. Miriama Evans and Ranui Ngarimu have written an informative text that highlights the skill and technique involved in creating each individual artwork. This is especially useful to those practising the art of Maori weaving. Those with a general interest will benefit from the overview of weaving and plaiting that supports the rest of the text.
Norman Heke, has been a photographer at Te Papa for the past ten years, his photographs convey a sense of texture and the tactile nature of the works rarely captured in photographs of Maori weaving.
A number of the works in the book featured in the international touring exhibition of Maori weaving, Toi Maori: The Eternal Thread - Te Aho Mutunga Kore, which will return from America in 2006.
The Eternal Thread: The Art of Maori Weaving
by Miriama Evans and Ranui Ngarimu with photographs by Norman Heke.
ISBN: 1-86969-161-X
RRP: $59.99
176 pages, 210x295mm
Softcover (with flaps)
Release Date: Late August 2005
Huia Publishers acknowledges the generous support of Creative New Zealand for this project.