Artist Profile
Daniel's journey into the world of pounamu carving is a personal mission to revive Toi Māori (Māori arts) within his family. Training under the watchful eyes of mentors Tamaora Walker and Akapita Scally, he is driven by the intricacies and precisions demanded of the art form, approaching each day in the studio as a chance to hone his skills. Drawing inspiration from whakairo rakau (wood carving) and tā moko (Māori tattoo), he aspires to carve complex designs into stone with the same mastery.
Daniel's journey is not just about carving pounamu; it's about carving his place in the world of Māori artistry, blending tradition with innovation, and carrying forward the torch of his ancestors' artistic greatness. Daniel is from Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Tarāwhai
