Paddy Cooper

Based: Bay View, Hawke's Bay

 

Paddy Cooper has been sculpting and carving for about 15 years.

He is a 6th generation New Zealander, so his work is inspired by New Zealand/Aotearoa – its land, environment, art, and culture. He uses New Zealand native timbers, pounamu greenstone, and flax in his sculptures. His work adorns the homes, offices and gardens of people throughout the world.

 

He lives at the beach at Bay View, just north of Napier, so much of his carving are inspired by the sea – matau (fish hooks), whales, whale tails, and dolphins. He has three adult children and three grandchildren, so other sculptures are inspired by the love of and for his family.

 

The work he plans to exhibit this year includes a large whale, (the guardian of the deep); Uenuku, a rainbow God inspired by the Tainui artefact of the same name (which comes from where Paddy grew up); Aroha Pounamu, a huge pounamu boulder held in a loving embrace by a carved Tawhairaunui (red beech) burr; and a matau with a muka cord and pounamu sinker.