"Waka Paddle 5" 2023

The waka paddle is one of the most elemental forms in Aotearoa — a tool of navigation, of connection, of crossing water. Waka Paddle 5 (2023) by New Zealand artist John Allen honours that form while giving it an entirely new energy: bold, colourful, and full of life.

The handle is shaped from driftwood, carrying the quiet history of the sea. The blade is crafted from demolition kauri — one of New Zealand’s most treasured and ancient timbers, reclaimed from an old building and given new purpose. Across the blade, the artist has painted a free, loose, and joyfully colourful pattern that transforms the paddle into something vibrant and contemporary — a piece that feels as at home in a young person’s room as it does in a gallery.

Like Waka Paddle 4, the piece is fitted with integrated LED up and down lights that cast a warm glow across the wall. At one metre in length, it commands the space with energy and presence.

Waka Paddle 5 is a unique ambient wall sculpture that is both culturally rooted and joyfully expressive — an exceptional and distinctive gift for a young person, an art lover, or anyone who wants something genuinely unlike anything else on their wall.

Specifications:

• Title: Waka Paddle 5 (2023)
• Artist: John Allen
• Materials: Driftwood handle, demolition kauri blade, acrylic paint, integrated LED up/down lights
• Length: 1000 mm
• Lighting: Plug-in LED — up and down lights
• Year: 2023
• Care: Indoor display recommended