A Sneak Peak into the Creative Design Wananga Ako

Kyran Potter, a Year 12 student in this Wananga Ako decided to make an ipu. Kyran created this amazing piece of art with white earth clay, clear glaze, kokowai, and underglazes. The clear glaze and kokowai were rubbed into the body of the white earth clay. Kyran then used the coiling technique to build his ipu. This means that he made snake type coils and built these up to create his pot.

Kyran’s ‘Ipu Whanau’ represents things that are most important to him. The kowhaiwhai pattern at the bottom of his pot represents the Orere river that he swam in growing up; a significant part of his childhood. The imagery on the ipu represents his parents who are his guardians, his kaitiaki. The red glaze found at the top of his pot represents the sun and his future. The gold line underneath the red glaze represents how important his family is to him. 

Kyran’s piece of art is being entered into the Ringa Toi Student Exhibition. The Ringa Toi Student Exhibition is an art exhibition that focuses on the Toi Maori artwork done by secondary school students. This exhibition looks into student’s artwork that has been completed at excellence level within their school environments. The 2020 Ringa Toi Student Exhibition will be held at the Asteron Centre in Wellington from Wednesday 23 September to Friday 2 October. We wish Kyran all the best with his incredible piece of art.