A breathtaking, thought-provoking Maori-inspired art print that will implore you to learn more about this mystical creature.

The print is titled "Kuru," short for Kurungaituku, the Bird Woman. This print is loosely based on the Māori legend of Kurungaituku, half woman, half bird and a Māori warrior named Hatupatu.

The Artist's Interpretation & Story

In this print, Kuru is depicted as a beautiful young Bird woman, she stands over 9 feet tall.

She is human, she is Kea, she is Huia, she is Māori.

Her armed wings are strong like the Kea and the deep orange feathers that grow from her scalp reference the underside feathers of a Kea’s wing but also looks like the wattle of the now extinct Huia. Her clever wit and intelligence are also reminiscent of the Kea.

She can attribute her long bird legs to that of a Huia and her cloak that mimics the sleek beak and body of a Huia disguises her from those that wish to harm all that she holds dear.

Kurungaituku is a protector, the mother of native birds and insects. She feeds only on plants, primarily the Piko piko (the Fern frond) and Mānuka flowers - subtly illustrated in the bottom half of her cloak that is made from leathery seaweed.

The greenstone eye of the cloak’s hood shimmers as light beads through the trees in Whakarewarewa Forest as she stands on a branch of a Tōtara tree looking down sadly at Hatupatu as he hunts her children.

Artist Heritage:
Te Arawa te Iwi - Tuhourangi te Hapu
Ngāti Porou te Iwi

*Frame & Accessories not included, used for display purposes only.