Eel Man

The references are restorative, the act of restocking and replenishing that which is fragile and timeless. The eel could be described as a conduit between people and the natural world. The physical and metaphorical journey it signals traces a passage inward and outward, to the hinterland and to the remote reaches of the ocean." 

"New Zealand art's residential cultural carpenter," according to art critic Justin Paton. "Walk into a gallery filled with Warren Viscoe's sculptures and you enter a working forest, a structure of structures, a mediation on landscape and memory that is told in planks and branches and wire and know-how."

Born in Auckland in 1935, Viscoe trained as a builder before heading off to study art in London, Toronto and Auckland. He returned to Auckland in 1962 with his wife Pierrette and two sons.

In the last 30 years he has worked as a teacher, jeweller, toymaker, interior designer and builder. Throughout this time he has held numerous solo exhibitions and his sculptures are in many New Zealand art collections, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland City Art Gallery, Dowse Art Museum, Wallace Arts Trust and the Unitec Institute of Technology.

In the last few years Waitakere City has commissioned many local artists to help create unique public spaces that forge a relationship with the land and the people of Waitakere City. These are three of the many other works you may like to visit.

How to get there

The Eelman can be found on Paremuka Lakeside Reserve. Head towards Swanson Drive along Metcalfe Rd, turn into Munroe Rd, then Charlene Close or arrive via Hillwell Drive, off Harvest Drive from Sturges Road.

View the location map.