Roimata - teardrop

1400mm x 130mm x 30mm

Materials - Pounamu, steel chain, brass swivel, silver brass and labradorite shackle, 8ply hand braided waxed cord, Tangiwai, found beach feather and seagull skull, hand forged copper bracket

Roimata- teardrop

This sculpture has its origins during the Christchurch earthquakes. 

The destruction of the earthquakes were so unfathomable and called for an artistic expression. Back then I set out to carve a Roimata and once l started working on it l felt compelled to add a symbolic wing shape. 

Together the two symbols and the original shape of the Pounamu morphed into the overall heart shape. 

At the start of this project l would work on it, in my very damaged workshop, and suddenly the earth would tremble causing me to run to safety and wait until it felt safe enough to go back inside. Again once back behind the machine another shake would cause me to dash. This was repeated over and over and over again. After completion during another one of these quakes the tip of the sculpture broke and l never finished it. Until now!

Although the sculpture is assembled as one it converts to two wearable neck pieces as well as one ring. The love chain was fabricated by adapting some of the links into love hearts and are blackened and forged for extra strength (a vital quality for survival).
- Jacqueline Morren