KANOHI

We source Wheku from all over the world,
from dusty shelves and forgotten corners,
and bring them back to their home in Aotearoa
where they are restored, recast, and reawakened.

Our new materials breathe life into each carved groove,
asking them to tell us their stories one more time.
Our new colours add volume to their voices.

Each piece insists that we look again at these original forms.
These faces. These tributes.
These are our country’s ancestors.
Keeping them alive, here,
is our shared responsibility.

the mahi

Kanohi is the name gifted to our wheku rescue project by our local kuia in 2023.
When we say 'Kanohi ki te kanohi' we typically mean a face-to-face meeting, however the literal translation is actually eye-to-eye.
As a noun, 'Kanohi' can refer to a sharp eye, or a person with keen eyesight or an eye for detail. 'Kanohi homiromiroa' is a saying based on a very sharp sighted bird called homiromiro, who skilfully watches for its food on the forest floor and on trunks of trees.
'He kanohi kitea' (a face seen) is a very important phrase and value in Māoridom. It acknowledges the importance of meeting people face-to-face to build relationships and trust.
We absolutely adore our name and will forever be grateful for the gift of Kanohi.
The road to launching Kanohi has been long but a sense of urgency to return these precious tohunga to Aotearoa, New Zealand has kept the fire burning.
When browsing Etsy for some home decor in 2022 we came across a Koruru (gable mask) that dated back to 1901. This precious item was described by its Canada-based owner as a ‘tiki mask’, its origin stated to be a place called ‘Rotorua’ which the seller stated was somewhere in Maui, Hawaii. As heartbreaking as it was at the time to read such a misrepresentation, the path was then clear. A 6 month search around the globe revealed multiple other pieces in need of urgent return to Aotearoa. Most needed repair, all had unknown whakapapa, all are now home and the search for other misplaced Tohunga is ongoing.
Click here to see this months featured piece, and where it is currently on display
After each wheku has undergone careful repair, we have lovingly cast each in eco-friendly silicone. In doing so their grooves and stirring patterns have been preserved. From there we have thoughtfully sourced modern materials that can be layered within the silicone casts to bring forward new iterations of these recently rehomed tohunga.
We are working closely with koumatua around the motu to trace the whakapapa of each piece we have returned to New Zealand. By tracing the type of wood, the tools used and styles known to historical local artists we hope to identify the original origins of each piece and return them to their rightful homes.

gallery

Wheku, meaning 'carved face', depicts the face of an ancestor. The Wheku is generally found at the apex of the gable on a Wharenui, the Maori meeting house, and symbolises an important ancestor after whom the house was named.

Traditional Maori designs follow tribal traditions inherited from previous generations, and incorporate design elements and principles that can be adapted with endless variation.