Rotorua master carver recognised with prestigious award

Master carver and sculptor Lyonel Grant. Photo / File

Rotorua master carver and sculptor Lyonel Grant has been recognised in this year's prestigious Te Waka Toi Awards.

Since 1986 the awards have acknowledged excellence and achievement across all artforms, including Māori heritage arts and traditional Māori games as well as the work of Māori artists across all forms of contemporary arts practice.

Grant, Ngāti Te Takinga, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa, has been described as an innovator whose unique methods have advanced traditional practice and contributed to Ngā Toi Māori artform evolution in the 21st century.

Grant was awarded the Te Tohu Toi Kē a Te Waka Toi, the award recognising a significant, positive impact on the development and practice of Māori arts.

Between 1985 and 1987 Grant completed his first whare whakairo (carved house/meeting house) Te Matapihi o te Rangi at Te Papa o te Aroha Marae in Tokoroa.

His second whare whakairo, Ihenga, was completed at Tangatarua Marae at the Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua between 1993 and 1996.

He used Ihenga as a model to explore the tensions between customary and contemporary Māori art practice. Later he co-authored Ihenga: Te Haerenga Hou, The Evolution of Māori Carving in the 20th century in 2007.

He has exhibited internationally in Aotearoa and his work is held in the collections of The British Museum, The Scottish Museum, Te Papa and in numerous private collections.

In 2004 he was one of the concept developers behind New Zealand's gold award winning Chelsea garden show entry.

Kawerau-based master weaver Mere Walker also received an award.

Walker, Whakatōhea, has been described as one of the best tutors of rāranga (traditional weaving) whose work has had a local and global impact.

With a deep understanding of her artform, she has inspired many to take up rāranga, and has become a highly respected expert in all of its aspects. Using materials including harakeke, pingao and kiekie, she has created many outstanding works, including kete, and woven whāriki (mats) as well as tukutuku panels for marae restoration projects.

A former president of Te Roopu Waihanga Taonga O Putauaki (Putauaki Creative Arts Group), and Rautahi Māori committee, her work has been displayed and exhibited in New Zealand and abroad. Between 1997 and 1999 she led a team of 12 weavers to repair the woven panels of the Mataatua Wharenui, a famous meeting house that was originally completed in 1875 and dedicated to Queen Victoria.

The Te Waka Toi Awards are hosted by the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa through Creative New Zealand and are supported by Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Papa, Te Matatini, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission) and Te Māngai Pāho.

Winners of this year's awards were announced at a ceremony at Te Papa on Saturday evening.