Tui Hobson
Tui Hobson has worked as a sculptor/carver for the last fourteen years.
My work reflects my Cook Island, Maori and European heritage. (Ngati Maoate, Ngati Te Akareva) and is inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Islands.
Tui's carvings range from small intimate pieces to large outdoor sculptures made from recycled native timber, hard wood, stone and metal. Her forms are responsive to the materials in which she works and infused with a contemporary twist and aesthetic.
Timbers such as totara, kauri, rimu and matai excite me for their individuality, each piece having its own unique quality, grain, colour and history. The scars in the wood are elements that add character rather than something to be hidden or removed.
Tui began as a photography student working with photo assemblage and documenting the street life of her Wellington hometown. While still interested in photography, and after a course in carpentry, it was the more physical and tactile experience of carving which inspired and captured her creative energy, a creativity encouraged from a young age by her artistic parents.
It was her father – a carver, art teacher and cabinet maker who first introduced Tui to working in wood and stone.
Acknowledging the redemptive and spiritual value of art making, Tui sees art as a personal expression and the key to a fulfilling life.
In 2004 she was awarded the Martin Hughes Contemporary Art Award and followed by reconnecting with the Cook Islands - “a rewarding experience personally and professionally.” In 2007 she received a Lake House Wood Sculpture Live Symposium award.
Tui enjoys the energy of group shows and collaborative projects, participating in sculpture symposiums and exhibitions around the country and with artists from all over the world.
I am inspired by the centuries of women sculptors and carvers.