Native Tongue

2011

ancient kauri (agathis australis)
3000 x 1700 x 200mm

Series: Subject-Object

A monumental solid I is shaped out of a single slab from the heartwood of a giant ancient kauri. The rare and unique timber, recovered from a prehistoric forest, is radio carbon-dated at over 45,000 years old - predating the last Ice Age, the migration of Neanderthal man, early cave painting in Europe, the development of language, and human occupation of Aotearoa. Carefully excavated from the depths of a Northland NZ peat swamp, this alpha native articulates a one word/one number text message. A new antiquity, Native Tongue begins again to silver with age.