Warm welcome for Welsh sculptor here to learn from master

Michael James Kerslake has been learning and working with master carver Matahi Brightwell over the past three weeks. They have created an artwork to show unity between cultures. Picture by Liam Clayton

The coming together of two cultures through art is represented in a new piece created by Celtic carver Michael James Kerslake and master carver Matahi Brightwell.

Michael James Kerslake, 40, from Wales, came to Aotearoa New Zealand to learn about carving and work with Matahi Brightwell.

Michael first learned of Matahi when he was about 12 years old. His father used to work in New Zealand and when he was here, sent a postcard to Michael of the giant Ngātoroirangi carving towering 14 metres above the deep water of  Lake Taupō.

Described as one of the most extraordiary contemporary artworks New Zealand has seen, the rock carving was sculpted over four years and completed in 1980. Brightwell led a team of four to complete the carving of his tipuna Ngātoroirangi on the rockface above Mine Bay.

The postcard “inspired me to become a monumental sculptor”, Michael said.

Years  later, his  sister — who lives in Karamea on the West Coast — was at an event where Matahi spoke. Afterwards she approached Matahi and talked to him about her brother. Matahi was interested in Michael’s work and invited him to Gisborne.

Michael secured funding from the UK arts council and planned to come last year. But Cyclone Gabrielle intervened and the Brightwells’ whare on the banks of the Waimatā River was damaged.

He could not contact the whānau at the time, but when he learned what had happened, rescheduled and donated to the whānau crowd fund set up to help the Brightwells with the repair and restoration of  their home.

Finally, about three weeks ago, Michael landed in Gisborne to start on his dream of working with Matahi.

“I was really on edge when I arrived, meeting a master of the profession I’m in. But I was immediately welcomed into the whānau, It’s been lovely,” Michael said.

He has been helping clean and restore some of Matahi’s work but they also decided to create a piece that represents their cultures coming together to create art.

“It’s about working together, a Māori and a Celtic sculptor working in collaboration to talk about unity in a world that feels like it’s being pulled apart. Let’s celebrate our togetherness rather than point to our differences,” Michael said.

Matahi said hosting a Celtic artist at his home and sharing his art and work was about showing how the world can come together.

“All this negativity in our country and the world — let’s get real and celebrate each other rather than separating one another,” he said.

“It’s telling the world to wake up — there’s better things in the world to do than argue. It’s telling my community of Gisborne, let’s get together — come on, let’s be friends.”

“There’s a saying in Māori, whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa which means goodwill to all mankind. This is what this is about.”

The carving has Celtic designs of a tri-circle, which represents birth, death and rebirth and an ancient design, from 1200 years ago, of a merman at the bottom.

Above Michael’s work is Matahi’s, which depicts a manaia, pāpaka and traditional rongowhakaata designs.

Michael left Gisborne yesterday and Matahi will finish off the carving.