Mangemange Pathfinder is an exquisite work, celebrating the form of the native climbing fern. Growing first in dark, damp places, the Mangemange plant sends out tendrils to source the light. It is incredibly strong and has traditionally been used to make rope, thatching, fish hooks and eel traps. The stems are so strong they have been used to saw pounamu in half.
Jim Wheeler's intricate work is, at its core, a manipulation of natural materials. He states: “In essence my sculpture is a spiritual practice; to engage in finding clues to human nature in the natural world...By showing a tree’s life cycle in a small sculpture, held in your hand, allows a tiny insight to speak of a larger truth.”
- Bronze
- 2023
- 950 x 200 x 130mm
- A/P Unique
A larger sculpture by Jim Wheeler exploring the Mangemange form can be found on the Sculpture Trail. To read more about it, click here.