Enter the House of Tāne

Original painting SOLD, oil on Belgian portrait linen, 300 x 100mm, 2010

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Print sizes and editions (limited to 275)

• Regular museum archival paper print - 300 x 100mm

Your unique limited edition fine art print

1. Sofia Minson creates your exclusive signed print
2. We ship for $25 in NZ and from $50 internationally
3. Your artwork arrives rolled, ready to be framed - do you need help? Request framing guidance

The story of Enter the House of Tāne

"The forest is a living thing just as I breathe and live. Every leaf, every tree, every insect, every bird, feels and knows this. When I enter its domain, I know I enter the House Of Tāne" - From Māori natural lore

Tāne Mahuta is the god of the forests and birds and the son of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, sky father and earth mother. In this painting we are confronted by the 'kaitiaki' or 'guardian' of Tāne's domain, which is in the form of a carved manaia figure. 

The manaia is an ancient mythical being seen in traditional Māori carving with a bird's head and a serpent's tail. They are said to be the messengers between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of spirits. In this work Sofia muses that the guardian being is welcoming those who have upmost respect for the forests and earth to "Enter the House Of Tāne"

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Sofia Minson Paintings | New Zealand Artwork | Enter the House of Tane | Maori