Images of Eyes Gallery I
Oil Portraits of "Ko Mauria" and "Ta Moko" 
(the Art of Maori Tattooing), 
and Traditional Maori Paintings, 
by Peter Jean Caley of Aotearoa, New Zealand

Peter Jean Caley, a professional artist since 1988, describes himself as an inspirational realist.  He has loved painting since childhood; at the age of 2 he kept a book of Salvador Dali tucked under his pillow.  Inspired by his Father and Grandfather who both painted, at the age of 14 Peter painted an oil portrait that still hangs in the Family.  He became a professional artist in 1988.  He paints entirely freehand and enjoys the challenge of large scale works.

Caley has received enormous publicity and his paintings and prints are in collector's hands throughout the world.  His works are featured in many international exhibitions, collections, and museums, and the demand increases for both his original art work and printed media.  His art has always sold out and generally is available only by order.

"Ko Mauria" by Peter Jean Caley
Image Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley
Oil painting, 1998, 24x30

Mauria TeTauri Mokenna lived in Te Puke and was one of the last Maori wearing the traditional moko (tattoo) and belonged to the Tama TeKapua tribe.  Mauria is wearing her great grandfather's Hei Tiki (a manaia 'bird shaped) and wearing traditional feather cloak (Kahu Kereru).  

From Caley's website:  "Te Tauri Mokenna Henare - Iwi Tama TeKapua (Tribe) Born in the Bay of Plenty, Mauria spent most of her life in Te Puke near Tauranga (North Island, New Zealand) Aotearoa and died in 1972, but her strength and spirit live on.  Mauria's greatest wish was to have her portrait painted and to spread the word of unity and love to all--that all Maori unite and join hands in the world in harmony.  Mauria's guiding force of strength, love and a smile along with words of wisdom still emanate from her to support us in our daily lives.  We see her beautiful smile and feel its reassurance."

Mauria died in 1972 at a guessed age of between 111 and 121 years of age. "Ko Mauria" was painted at the request of the family, and is Caley's signature painting.

"Ta Moko" by Peter Jean Caley
Image Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley
Oil painting, 2000, 30x24"

Moko was a highly skilled trade and the artists were treated with the utmost respect.  The application was performed with a light tapping.  Chisels were made from raupo or wood with blades of bone, Paua shell, sharks teeth and virtually anything that could be fashioned into a cutting tool.  Permanent dyes were made from burnt ash, plants, and a special worm.  It was protocol not to have any clothing and the tattooed person was fed with a stick (like a fork) for many weeks until the wounds healed.

"Ta Moko" depicts the traditional art of Maori tattooing.  The whole event was always watched by the ancestors.  Moko (Tattoo) was a description of the person, ancestry, skills, tribe, and status.  The whole body was tattooed as the Maori never wore clothes in battle and it was a way of identifying the body should the head be lost during the fight.

Portions of the exhibit shown above were originally published Jun 21, 2001

Traditional Maori Paintings by Peter Jean Caley

"Wairua Tangata" by Peter Jean Caley
Oil Painting Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley

"Tamihana Tamaki" by Peter Jean Caley
Oil Painting Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley

"Rangi Miria" by Peter Jean Caley
Oil Painting Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley

Caley's website is http://www.caleyart.com/
Caley's email is info@caleyart.com

Caley's website has more paintings that depict Maori culture, New Zealand native birds, landscapes, and wildlife, and his paintings of America's Cup and the Volvo International Sailing Races--the paintings that have made Caley an internationally-recognized artist.

http://www.caleyartnz.com/ includes numerous paintings, articles, reviews, and photographs of Caley's world-wide exhibits and travels, and his new gallery in Geraldine, South Canterbury, NZ.

Peter Jean Caley Paintings of NZL60, the winning yacht
in the 2000 America's Cup Challenge

This painting is the first of two of NZL60, the winning
yacht in the 2000 America's Cup Challenge, which
retained the Cup for New Zealand *.
Painting Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley

This painting is the second of two of NZL60.
It hangs permanently in the Maritime Museum
in the Viaduct Basin in Auckland, New Zealand.
Painting Copyright © by Peter Jean Caley

*"Auckland became the centre of attention for the build up to the 30th America's Cup as the potential challengers trained and raced in the area for the right to challenge Team New Zealand for the Auld Mug.  Italy's Prada Challenge won the challenger series and took on Team New Zealand in the hopes of taking the Cup to Europe.  But the New Zealander's, again skippered by Russel Coutts, were too strong and won the series 5-0 to become only the second nation in the cup's 149 year history to successfully defend the America's Cup." [From http://www.americascup2000.org.nz/archive/]

The Maori People of New Zealand

The word Maori refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, and to their language.  Māori came to New Zealand from eastern Polynesia, probably in several waves, sometime before 1300. They spread throughout the country and developed a distinct culture. Europeans came to New Zealand in increasing numbers from the late 18th century, and the technologies and diseases they brought with them destabilised Māori society. After 1840, Māori lost much of their land and went into a cultural and numerical decline, but population began to increase again from the late 19th century, and a cultural revival began in the 1960s. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The article continues at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maori .  

Maori culture is a distinctive part of New Zealand culture.  With the growth of tourism and exposure of haka to international audiences on TV and at sporting competitions, Maori culture that was previously observed only in Maori society and social gatherings with a significant Maori aspect, is increasingly seen as fundamental to New Zealand culture as a whole. The article continues at  http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maori_culture .

Links to Articles About the Maori People and Their Culture

http://www.maori.com/ -- The first Maori website--the Maori people of Aotearoa / New Zealand.  "As popular now as it was when it was first built, in 1995.  The most popular attraction of the site over the years has been the section on Whakapapa Maori or Maori Genealogy.  It has also been used by universities to illustrate their courses on Maori research.  It provides an overview of many aspects of Maoritanga.  It is also a vehicle for the much sought after analysis and writings of Ross Nepia Himona, who has been a very popular commentator and writer for two decades." [Quoted from http://www.culture.co.nz/]

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9338/culture.htm -- Maori culture and tradition

http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/culture/maori/ -- A brief overview of Maori history, origins, and traditions

http://history-nz.org/-- Links to Maori history and culture, Ta Moko (the tattoo), Maori legends and games, the Maori today

Published Jun 6, 2008
Page updated Sep 13, 2009

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