"Waka Paddle 4" 2023

The waka paddle is one of the most elemental forms in Aotearoa — a tool of navigation, of connection, of crossing water. Waka Paddle 4 (2023) by New Zealand artist John Allen honours that form while transforming it into something that illuminates a room as much as it moves through the imagination.

Shaped from puriri driftwood and laminated ply, finished in acrylic paint, the paddle is fitted with integrated LED up and down lights that cast a warm, directional glow across the wall. At one metre in length, it holds the wall with quiet authority — a sculptural presence that is both culturally resonant and beautifully ambient. The puriri driftwood brings its own history to the piece: one of New Zealand’s most ancient native trees, shaped further by sea and time before arriving in the studio.

Waka Paddle 4 is a unique ambient wall sculpture that draws on the deep cultural heritage of Aotearoa — one of a kind, made to last, and unlike anything else on a wall.

Specifications:

• Title: Waka Paddle 4 (2023)
• Artist: John Allen
• Materials: Puriri driftwood, laminated ply, acrylic paint, integrated LED up/down lights
• Length: 1000 mm
• Lighting: Plug-in LED — up and down lights
• Year: 2023
• Care: Indoor display recommended