Slender Lady (Joy Dynamic)

Materials

Tōtara can be found in both the North Island and the South Island, although it is mostly found in the Central North Island region, and in lowland reserves. The Tōtara tree can grow up to two and a half metres in diameter, with older and larger trees becoming hollow. The tree is identified by its dark brown trunk with bark that looks similar to paper strips coming away from the tree. The heartwood of Tōtara can be seen as a common brown reddish colour, the sapwood is a lighter shade of brown. Growth rings are present in the tree and are very distinctive as they are usually evenly spaced. The wood of the tree has a straight grain, which allows it to be easily split; the wood is also very fine and has an even texture that has an attractive finish.

Artist Notes

Tanja Roder is a talented artist who believes that when sculptures are constructed properly can be extremely powerful in their message, and allow the viewer to appreciate and understand the spatiality as well as the craftsmanship. Everyone can see a reflection of themselves in the artworks/figures, and it allows for differing interpretations of the meaning behind it. She believes you should transfer your knowledge into your art, and that is what she does so powerfully. Her main subject is humans, and this is noticeable when looking at her pieces, she captures the human processes of life and builds her artwork around that certain moment.