Shane Dudley

‘Our Song’ is a sculptural reflection on loss, resilience, and cultural memory.

This piece is my interpretation of a hybrid adze (toki) and Huia feather, merging the form and symbolism of both.

The Toki, a revered traditional Māori tool, served not only practical purposes but also stood as a symbol of status, mana, and strength. It represents ingenuity, authority, and connection to the whenua ( land).

Layered into this form is the story of the Huia, one of Aotearoa’s most sacred birds, now tragically extinct. The Huia was treasured by Māori, its tail feathers worn only by those of the highest rank.

But with the arrival of the British in the late 1700’s came new materials, copper, steel, alongside a devastating wave of exploitation. Huia feathers became highly sought after in Europe, commodified and collected, pushing the species to extinction. The last confirmed sighting was in 1907.

In ‘Our Song’, I imagine a final moment, two Huia, male and female, perched in a Kahikatea tree, sharing berries and singing their once melodic song, our song.

– Shane Dudley

Artist Bio

Shane Dudley’s works draw on both his Pakeha and Maori background, with many pieces highlighting the Mana of the ‘real’ object such as a Huia feather or mere pounamu, of which he makes powerfully enlarged versions.

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