Saturday, April 27, 2013

Maori Woman 1876. After a painting by Gottfried Lindauer

The image I chose to work from is one of Lindauer's edgier paintings, grittier than earlier works in which I believe, he tended towards idealising his subjects.

A quick graphite on paper study of a Maori woman from 1876 after an oil painting by Gottfried Lindauer. Is this woman the Maori equivalent of the Mona Lisa? Who was she I wonder?

Monday, April 15, 2013

The Red elephant of Khyber Pass, Auckland New Zealand

In the early 1990's I was involved in the design and building of many commercially oriented public sculptures and 3D signs.

This project, a ferro cement, generic elephant, was built for the Chang Tong Thai Restaurant, now known as the Red Elephant.




The Golden Elephant of Khyber Pass, Auckland, New Zealand with the company ute in the foreground. Photo taken by me in 1991.
Here are a few surviving images of the building process.
The armature beginning to reveal the shape of the elephant in 3 D.

Another perspective of the steel armature in the workshop.

Armature with most of its wire netting applied, those are my boys, Robert and Arien.

A trunk down perspective of the plastering process.
I developed a very successful plaster mixture by blending Portland cement with equal parts of sand and macerated news paper which was power mixed with a paddle and a drill. It clung to the two layers of mesh extremely well.
What the paster application looked like from inside.

A young Rachel Hunter looks on.

My son Arien as Mahout
The detail was added as a second plaster layer using a variety of metal shapes bent out of steel sheet.
Swinging the sculpture from the low loader into position outside the restaurant in Khyber Pass, Auckland NZ. It weighed 1.5 tonnes.

My daughter Rebekka loved the excitement of Dad's job.

In position, my children from left to right, Robert, Rebekka, Arien in his favourite position.
This is my son Robert with the red elephant in 2012
Auckland wildlife

More Auckland wildlife

Monday, April 8, 2013

Sati is at last grazing peacefully at The Labyrinth in the Waiotemarama Gorge

We called James to bring his truck to collect Sati on Sunday morning.


Loading Sati in Rawene ready for the journey

Buckling in.
Halfway there, Sati takes in the breathtaking view of the Hokianga Harbour.


Sati loves her new forest home.

Nearly there.
Sati finds her feet
Louis, Sati's new owner with Harmen.

Four more bolts to go and she's secure. Labyrinth Shop and Puzzle Museum in the background.
Sati, Harmen & Julie
 Louis, Harmen, Julie and Sue in front of Sati.
For the Northern News release article, Wednesday 10 April 2013 go to this link

Monday, April 1, 2013

Sati is close to her delivery date of Sunday the 7th of April 2013

Easter Monday, the day I covered Sati in one complete coat of boiled linseed oil and turpentine.
"That tickles"
 The oil darkens and warms the concrete simultaneously giving me the result I'm after. One more coat on Saturday and we're done.
Hind legs to go and I can have a cup of tea!

Please help the elephants of the world.

I want my work on Sati to stand for something into the future.

An Elephant Never Forgets documentary Youtube trailer of a new release, must see, viewer discretion advised.

Elephant Nature Park Chiang Mai Thailand. By Lek Chailert

Please sign this petition to send your support to Dame Daphne Sheldrick for the welfare of Elephants worldwide.

Here's another online peteition to protest against ivory trading.

This one is to the president of Kenya petition link.

This is the link for www.saveelephant.org elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

I will add more as I find them. Share, share, share, sign sign sign please!

Harmen Hielkema



Four new boat portraits.

Water colour on paper. A4 size Water colour on paper. A4 size Water colour on paper. A4 size Water colour on paper. ...