Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard

“I shrug off the suggestion that I’m a ‘purist’ when it comes to my work. Nor would I say that the work I produce is 100 per cent traditional. Rather I try to ensure that the integrity of the piece is compromised as little as possible. For example, why use the traditional method to extract and spin muka fibre when you are going to use a synthetic dye to colour it? Why not just create it purely out of synthetically prepared and dyed fibres? I find synthetic dyes an intrusion and not an enhancement to my work. When we stop using our traditional dyes, we lose a whole knowledge system. Besides keeping the art of dying and weaving processes present today, it keeps the art relevant so that it looks like it belongs in the home instead of the museum.”

Artist Statement, 2009