Brian Flintoff is one of New Zealand's foremost bone carvers. Though he is Pākehā it is his journey into the world of Māori art that has provided him with his greatest inspiration and direction as a carver. The knowledge, sensitivity and skill that he brings to his work has seen him gain considerable respect within both the Māori and European worlds, and his carvings are treasured as taonga throughout the country.
Kura Koiwi is both a personal account of Brian Flintoff's career as a carver, but also an important exploration of Māori art and how it relates to bone carving. Heavily illustrated with exquisite examples of his, and other people's work, this book explains the mythology and symbolism behind his work, and in doing so provides and inspiring window in the the power and beauty of our indigenous culture. Conceived as a sister publication to Taonga Puoro: Singing Treasures, his acclaimed earlier book on Māori musical instruments, Kura Koiwi is an elegant and insightful contribution to the writing about Māori art.
