Fayne Robinson Explained

Fayne Robinson
Birth Name:	Charles Eldon Fayne Robinson
Birth Place:	Hokitika, New Zealand
Education:	New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
Known For:	Māori carving
Notable Works:	Public sculptures including Te Pou Herenga Waka, Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch,

Charles Eldon Fayne Robinson^[1] (born 1964) is a New Zealand Māori artist specialising in carving. Robinson has contributed to the carving of buildings on many marae in New Zealand as well as exhibiting his art in galleries and museums.

Biography

Robinson was born in 1964 and grew up in the South Island town of Hokitika on the West Coast of New Zealand. His iwi are Kāti Māmoe, Kai Tahu, Ngāti Apa Ki Te Rā Tō and Ngāti Porou.^[2] Robinson trained in Māori carving at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua and graduated in 1984,^[3] He was just 17 when he got accepted and is one of only four from Ngāi Tahu who have attended.^[4] He was influenced to pursue Māori art from meeting the head weaver from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Emily Schuster, when he was younger.^[5]

Robinson has carved on meeting houses and at marae, including Te Tauraka Waka a Māui Marae in Bruce Bay, completed in 2005, and Arahura Marae near Hokitika, completed in 2013.^[6] The New Zealand national museum Te Papa Tongarewa owns three of his works in their collections.^[7]

Works and exhibitions

Wharenui as master carver

• 2005 – Kaipō, Te Tauraka Waka a Māui Marae, Bruce Bay
• 2010 – Wheke, Rāpaki (Te Wheke) Marae, Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa (with Riki Manuel)^{[8] [9]}
• 2013 – Tūhuru, Arahura Marae, Arahura

Exhibitions

• 2003 – Kiwa-Pacific Connections, Vancouver, Canada, group exhibition
• 2014 – Matatoki: Contemporary Māori Carving, group exhibition developed by Rotorua Museum^[10]
• 2017 – Ka Nohoaka Toi, Toi Moaraki CoCA, Christchurch, group exhibition sponsored by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu^[11]
• 2019 – Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone, group exhibition curated by Te Papa Tongarewa^[12]

Public installations

• 2010 – Te Pou Herenga Waka, Christchurch Civic Building, Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch^[13]
• 2013 – Te Kaiwhakatere o Te Raki, pouwhenua, Scott Base, Antarctica^[14]
• 2017 – Pounamu sculpture, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, Canterbury (with Caleb Robinson)^[15]
• 2018 – Tāwhaki, Tūranga, Christchurch (with Caleb Robinson)^[16]
• 2018 – Kāhui Whatu, Tūranga, Christchurch^[16]
• 2019 – Mana Motuhake, Victoria Square, Christchurch^[17]
• 2020 – Carved memorial stone, Jacobs River^[18]
• 2022 – Pou Tū te Raki o Te Maiharanui, Takapūneke, Banks Peninsula^[19]
• 2022 – Te Kopikopiko o Te Waka, Gillespies Beach Road^[20]

Other

• 2017 – Crozier for Richard Wallace, second Pīhopa o Te Waipounamu^[21]
• 2018 – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles jersey, worn by Manly for matches played in Christchurch^[22]
• 2018 – Te Ātanga, Broadhurst–Shelford Trophy, contested in NRL matches between Manly Warringah and the New Zealand Warriors^[23]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Maori Arts and Crafts Institute of New Zealand oral history project . National Library of New Zealand . 10 October 2020.
2. Web site: Fayne Robinson – Kura Gallery: Maori and New Zealand Art + Design.. 2020-10-10. en-US.
3. Web site: Fayne Robinson (1964–), Māori artist biography and portfolio. 2020-10-10. Spirit Wrestler Gallery. en.
4. Web site: Walking the Line: Blending classical and contemporary approaches in carving. 2020-10-10. Nelson Provincial Museum. en-NZ.
5. Web site: Master Carversredefine the faces of Ngāi Tahu. 2020-10-10. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. en-NZ.
6. News: Arahura Marae opening . 13 February 2014 . Te Pānui Rūnaka . 10 October 2020.
7. Web site: Loading... Collections Online – Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 2020-10-10. Collections Te Papa.
8. News: Te Wheke to be reborn at Rapaki Marae . 24 July 2009 . . 17 January 2023.
9. News: Rapaki celebrates $2.7m whare opening . Charlie . Gates . 27 November 2010 . . 17 January 2023.
10. Web site: Matatoki: Contemporary Māori Carving The Dowse Art Museum. 2020-10-10. dowse.org.nz. en.
11. Web site: 2017-08-18. Ngāi Tahu artists occupy CoCA for major new exhibition Scoop News. 2020-10-10. Scoop.
12. Web site: Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone. 2020-10-10. Nelson Provincial Museum. en-NZ.
13. Web site: Blessing of Te Hononga, the new Christchurch Civic Building . 11 August 2010 . Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu . 10 October 2020.
14. News: Ngāi Tahu unveil art work in Antarctica . 17 March 2013 . Te Pānui Rūnaka . 11 October 2020.
15. News: Pounamu sculpture returned to Hanmer Springs pools after theft . 24 February 2020 . The Press . 18 October 2020.
16. Web site: Tūranga – artworks and cultural narrative . -Christchurch Public Libraries . 11 October 2020.
17. Web site: Hayward. Michael. 2019-03-04. New $300,000 artwork to be installed in Christchurch's Victoria Square. 2020-10-10. Stuff. en.
18. News: One place, two faiths, three bishops . West Coast Messenger . 5 February 2020 . 1 . 23 October 2020.
19. News: Pou unveiled to mark significance of Takapūneke near Akaroa . 24 June 2022 . RNZ News . 24 June 2022.
20. News: Stunning Tohu Whenua site highlights Fox Glacier as a taonga . Brendon . McMahon . 12 December 2022 . . 12 December 2022.
21. News: Ngāi Tahu Bishop of Te Waipounamu . 22 February 2017 . Te Pānui Rūnaka . 5 . 13 February 2024.
22. Web site: Manly to wear Ngai Tahu jersey against Warriors in Christchurch clash . 21 February 2018 . Canterbury Rugby League . 11 October 2020.
23. News: Manly to play for Broadhurst-Shelford trophy in home fixtures in Christchurch . Olivia . Caldwell . 29 May 2018 . Stuff.co.nz . 11 October 2020.