Art exhibition in Oneroa

“Under the skin” will be opening at [ s p a c e ] on Friday 18 October at 5pm. Please join John and his guests for this rare occasion.
John Freeman will be filling “small space” with a large selection of his most recent Kauri sculptures. 

John Freeman
www.kauriart.co.nz

The wood that you see is called Swamp Kauri. Thousands of years ago, long before man reached New Zealand, huge Kauri forests stood on firm ground, taking up to 2000 years to mature.

By some massive forces of nature whether it be of earthquakes, tidal forces or high winds these trees came down and over a period of time became buried under the ground. Here they lay in a wasteland being covered in swamp water which preserved the timbers due to lack of oxygen and presence of mineral salts. Tens of thousands of years past and now due to changes in agriculture and farming methods the land was drained and the ancient trees were then discovered.

For decades farmers have dug these up and burnt them as they were of no value to them. Having
rescued hundreds of tonnes of swamp kauri from the potential fires of Northland farmers, John has an almost endless supply of fascinating, interesting and quite unique pieces with which to work, ancient “treasures” that are a part of New Zealand’s heritage. The wood has been excavated, cleaned, cut to size, dried as slabs or blocks and then transported to Waiheke Island.

John works from his subtropical patch of paradise, unveiling the natural beauty of the wood, through water sculptures, large discs and bowls, cosmic eggs, torus’s, wall hangings, banquet and coffee tables, couches and beyond. It was for the love of Kauri that John became a wood craftsman back in 1976. His work reflects his passion for bringing the wood to life after 35,000 years beneath the dirt, where it was hidden and preserved in the swamps of Northland, New Zealand.

John was originally drawn to the material because of its history and the colour variations, especially the roots, textured and gnarled, smooth and silky, each and every one explores the “The Soul of the Tree”. By sculpting a piece of ancient natural history, John bridges past and present by preserving and sharing something timeless. It’s like doing an autopsy on the tree John says, as you can see how it lived and healed itself in times of storms and drought, with every piece telling a story through its kinetic energy living on in works of art and furniture. John leaves the natural edges, voids and intertwining roots to make an art piece which is original and beautiful, drawing inspiration from the natural form and creating a powerful presence.

John has had many showings throughout New Zealand and Internationally, with 90% of his work going overseas for corporate offices and private collections. “People come to me for heirlooms. I want these pieces to be around for hundreds of
Years.”