Standing Figure – Warrior

Ko *Standing Figure – Warrior*, 1965 tētahi o ngā toi tārai hou tuatahi mō te haka, ā, he tārai ihiihi e whakaatu ai i te hira o te haka me te tūnga o te toa i roto i te ahurea Māori. I ngā wā o mua ka haka ngā toa i mua i te haerenga ki te mura o te ahi, hei whakaatu i tō rātou whirikoka, i tō rātou mātātoa. Ko te tikanga he whakamataku, he wero, i te hoariri. Ko te tū haka, arā ko te whakapāhake me te tūruru o ngā waewae me ngā ringaringa, he momo o te toa haka. Kitea ai tēnei tūnga haka i roto i tēnei toi a Matchitt me te hoahoa muramura e whakaata ana i ngā tauira me ngā ariā hou, hei whakaatu i te āhua o te ao hou.

One of the first modern sculptural representations of the haka (performed war dance), *Standing Figure – Warrior*, 1965 is a bold sculpture that recalls the importance of the haka and the role of the warrior in Māori culture. War haka were originally performed by warriors before battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess. They were intended to intimidate and challenge the enemy. The posture and stance of the crouched arms and legs were the hallmarks of revered haka exponents. We see this stance in Matchitt’s depiction along with bold design reflecting new patterning and ideas that show the influence of the modernist aesthetic.

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