Lesson Content

1. Meet Robert Jahnke

   Robert Jahnke, primarily a sculptor, is considered one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary Maori artists. Jahnke is of Samoan-German-Irish-Maori heritage, and according to “Robert Jahnke,” 2022, he employs a range of media to create work that focuses on the dynamics and issues of colonisation, inter-cultural exchange, and the politics of identity, and to explore Māori creation narratives in a complex way.

   According to “Robert Jahnke – Lightworx Gallery,” 2022, his practice questions and challenges established Eurocentric narration (focusing on European culture or history of New Zealand in this case), championing Māori perspectives, experiences and narratives instead.

   

   Robert Jahnke, Ata tuarua, 2016

2. In Jahnke’s work, it can be seen how he has long been drawn to the aesthetic and metaphorical qualities of light, particularly neon. He translates neon forms into diamonds, triangles & crosses. From light, mirrors and reflections, the neon light forms bright beams in Jahnke’s works, creating a distinctive glow and appearance of infinity.

   The cross form in his work is the basic stitch in tukutuku weaving (chevron patterns found in wharenui that signifies fortitude and virility), and the building block for patterns such as kaokao (both playing their own metaphorical role in te Ao Māori - the Māori world view). 

   

   Robert Jahnke, Ata tuarua, 2016

More work by Robert Jahnke

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Citations