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He Auripo (2022)
We played a key role in translating digital designs into physical form, laying the groundwork for the final sculptural presence of this artwork.
Len Hetet (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Whānui) is a Māori sculptural artist and Senior Art Director at Baked Design. It was a privilege to support Len in bringing 'He Auripo' to life.
Located on Parliament grounds on Bowen Street, Wellington, the 3.5-metre sculpture stands as a guardian over the land, symbolising connection, protection and the enduring relationship between people and place.
“Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui tupua rau. He auripo i te manga nui, he auripo i te manga iti. He kaitiaki ki te whenua.”
“Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui of many phenomena. A ripple in the great waterway or small tributaries. A guardian on land.”
Fabricating He Auripo required advanced composite techniques, including carbon fibre reinforcement, vacuum bagging and fibreglassing to achieve a translucent finish, allowing the sculpture to be illuminated from within.
As with many complex builds, a significant part of the process lay in generating form and producing precision moulds. Our CNC routers played a key role in translating digital designs into physical form, laying the groundwork for the final sculptural presence.
