Artist Profile
As a young child, John often fell asleep to the sounds of his father saw-cutting in his workshop. So, it was a natural progression for him to become a recruit to his father’s workshop, shortly after he finished his schooling. At just 18 years old he won a major prize in the illustrious Mana Pounamu Contemporary Awards. He then spent the better part of a decade working with and learning from some of New Zealand’s most talented carvers that passed through. Over the years John has developed and honed his craft, but his most important takeaway has been learning about people’s connection to jade.
John always lets the stone dictate his designs. By closely studying the raw material, he can see what designs are possible. You should never try to force a design upon a stone.
