Putanga O Te Rā (Birth of the Sun)

New Zealand crafted quilt on display at Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre in Auckland. 

“Ancient civilisations worshipped the sun, the moon, the earth, but we have forgotten these things. We have to treasure them”

Inspired by the Pineapple Log Cabin pattern, artist Gwen Wanigasekera developed this quilt from a small sketch, translated on to graph paper and transposed on to vilene sewing the fabric in reverse. 

Made of cotton, chintz, satins and silks, the fabrics were hand dyed to achieve the desired shades of colours.

In 1990, a landmark nationwide quilt-making competition was held at Aotea Centre bringing a new level of recognition to the artform. The resulting exhibitions further cemented and promoted quilt making throughout the country. 

 

Artist: Gwen Wanigasekera

Date of work: 1990

Medium: Cottons, chintz, satin & silk

Funded by: Peter and Rinny Gordon