Shane Dudley

‘Kūpapa’ reimagines the Māori Mere – a revered weapon traditionally crafted from pounamu (greenstone) – in a rusted steel patina, a material choice that evokes the fraught history of the New Zealand Māori Wars. During this turbulent period, some Māori warriors fought alongside the British, standing against their own people. These Kūpapa are symbolised by the unconventional steel finish, a ‘British’ material, which serves as a subtle yet powerful reference to their divided loyalties.

Engraved into the handle, a discreet British Armed Forces insignia deepens this historical connection. The crack in the blade, stitched with copper, honours the fallen warriors / soldiers on both sides, subtly capturing the lingering trauma and sacrifice that reverberates through the generations.

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.

View full bio