Huia - Painted Egg Sculpture

Original painting SOLD, 76cm high moulded fibreglass egg, hand painted in acrylics with clear protective glaze

The story of "Huia" Painted Egg Sculpture

This signed, hand painted sculpture by Sofia Minson sold at auction in April 2014 and all of the proceeds went to the Starship Foundation.

The 2014 Whittaker's Big Egg Hunt, the first event of its kind Down Under, showcased 100 giant eggs designed by top New Zealand artists hidden throughout Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in historic, landmark and public spaces. The aim was to raise funds for the Starship Foundation, a charity which supports the national children's hospital to provide world-leading care for almost 120,000 patient visits each year. Visit www.thebigegghunt.co.nz and get your whanau to join the hunt for Easter 2015!

Design Statement:

Minson's artwork "Huia" depicts a male and also a very rare albinistic female of the now extinct native New Zealand bird.  In traditional Maori life the huia's white-tipped black feathers were worn by people of high rank and were kept in a special carved box called a waka huia. The huia reminds us of Aotearoa's unique ancient past - a land densely covered in native forest, full of endemic birds without predators. Although we can't go back to that, Sofia hopes that at Easter time, this time of new beginnings, the huia will inspire us to embrace our role as 'kaitiaki' or 'guardians' of the mauri (vital life force) of all entities animate and inanimate within the whakapapa (genealogy) of the natural world.

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Sofia Minson Paintings | New Zealand Artwork