"The Taniwha takes form on the land, using old tyres
packed with earth. Earth/mud becomes the skin. The scales on the back of the Taniwha are children's hands, made from clay, and coloured with melted recycled glass. The hands symbolise blessing and nurturing the earth; Also as a reminder to adults of our responsibilities to the earth and to children."
Debra Bustin 1997
Inspired
by a local community and the river which flows through it, the 'Taniwha
of a Thousand Hands' sculpture is a collaboration between artist Debra Bustin, Waitakere City Council, Creative New Zealand and the local community. The sculpture provides a safe and exciting place for local children to play, and a valuable teaching aid for nearby schools. Some 9 metres long and 1.2 metres high, the sculpture fits neatly into the Council's
Green Network strategy and
First Call For Children policy.
The project began in 1996, when Waitakere City Council contracted a designer to provide a creative solution to an area that needed a playground facility which catered to the needs of disabled children. It was agreed that the construction of a low wall, which would also function as a seat, would be the ideal solution.
Through a series of on-site public meetings at the Hart Domain, it became clear that the local community was keen to be involved in the project.
Petone-based artist Debra Bustin was commissioned to design and oversee the construction. Local artist Iona Matheson was contracted to act as Debra's assistant, to learn more about the processes of working with communities and to provide local knowledge for any maintenance required.
The body was built on a concrete pad which included a drainage system to manage stormwater runoff. Considerable time was spent 'wrapping' the body in wire mesh, which held smaller boulders in place, developing both detail and bulk where required. The mesh was wire stitched to itself, and tied securely to iron pins preplaced in the concrete base.
Debra and her team conducted workshops in eight local schools, working with children to create clay imprints of their hands. One thousand handprints were produced. The imprints were dried and filled with crushed recycled glass.
Earth cement was packed into the spaces left by the boulders, into which the fired clay and glass hands were inserted for the final 'skin' of the Taniwha. Spaces were left for plants to grow as 'hair'.
Local iwi were involved in blessing the ground prior to work beginning and when work was completed, at the official opening ceremony.
"The Taniwha takes form on the land, using old tyres
packed with earth. Earth/mud becomes the skin. The scales on the back of the Taniwha are children's hands, made from clay, and coloured with melted recycled glass. The hands symbolise blessing and nurturing the earth; Also as a reminder to adults of our responsibilities to the earth and to children."
Debra Bustin 1997
Inspired
by a local community and the river which flows through it, the 'Taniwha
of a Thousand Hands' sculpture is a collaboration between artist Debra Bustin, Waitakere City Council, Creative New Zealand and the local community. The sculpture provides a safe and exciting place for local children to play, and a valuable teaching aid for nearby schools. Some 9 metres long and 1.2 metres high, the sculpture fits neatly into the Council's
Through a series of on-site public meetings at the Hart Domain, it became clear that the local community was keen to be involved in the project.
