Noelle Jakeman
Ngāti Hine
Ngā Puhi
Ngāti Maniapoto
Tainui
Artist Statement
‘He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.’ which means, if you ask me what is the most important thing in the world, I will reply it is people, it is people, it is people.
I often refer to this saying because of my interest in community arts and it is also the basis of my own sculpture works which are based on people who influence and inspire me to create these characters. From ancestors to relatives, to characters I’ve grown up with or am familiar with, some have quiet reflective traits, strong personalities to the more humorous characteristics. They’re easily identifiable as Māori, yet often have universal traits that others easily relate to as well.
The use of uku is also important to me as it as it emphasizes that connection we have to the land as Māori so I also try to highlight some of the issues we face as tangata whenua (people of the land). As an artist working with uku for just over 20yrs, I credit the late Colleen Urlich & Manos Nathan for their guidance and support I first started out as an art student then continuing on as a practicing & exhibiting uku (clay) artist
