Robin Slow
Symbolizing the spiritual bond between earth and sky.
SuperNatural
Symbolizing the spiritual bond between earth and sky.
His home and studio, filled with his works and speckled with paint, reflect his deep connection to Māori legends and culture. Bird motifs such as tui, kaka, and ruru are prominently featured in his creations, symbolizing the spiritual bond between earth and sky. Despite being a prolific visual artist, Robin resists categorization. He views ngā toi Māori (Māori arts) not merely as artistic expressions but as a holistic process encompassing storytelling, prayer, song, music, weaving, and motifs. "It’s unbounded and nonlinear," he says, likening his work to a spiral wrapping around him.
He views ngā toi Māori (Māori arts) not merely as artistic expressions but as a holistic process encompassing storytelling, prayer, song, music, weaving, and motifs. "It’s unbounded and nonlinear," he says, likening his work to a spiral wrapping around him.
Robin moved to Mohua Golden Bay in 1982 to teach art at Golden Bay High School. There, he collaborated with local carvers and weavers to transform an old school building into the Onetahua Marae, the focal point of Māori life in the Bay. He explains,
"It became a process of learning and restoring tikanga." This transformation took about 10 years, with the features of the wharenui (meeting house) serving as metaphors for the stories embedded in it.
A storyteller at heart, Robin uses various media such as ink, oil, acrylic, feathers, and even stone-made paint to bring his narratives to life. He often collaborates with others, reflecting his belief that storytelling is a communal process. His work extends to illustrating children’s books, capturing the legends of taniwha and other ancestral tales.
He supported himself through commercial art while studying at Christchurch Teachers’ College, later spending four decades as an art teacher in various locations, including Golden Bay High School. He remains closely connected to the school, now working on integrating ngā toi Māori into its rebuild.
One of Robin's notable collaborative projects is the travelling exhibition Ngā Hau Ngākau (Breath of Mine), which features 36 of his paintings, 34 carvings by Brian Flintoff, and a soundscape and video by Bob Bickerton. The exhibition, which aims to evoke the form of a carved meeting house, has been displayed in multiple venues across New Zealand and continues to tour.
I’m very grateful to have the background I have because it’s given me a range of experiences and the ability to empathize with many different people.
He values his freedom to respond to the needs of his whānau (extended family) and community over financial gain. "I have a roof over my head, food in my stomach, I have whānau and family... what more do you need?" he says.
Over the past 23 years, Robin's work has been featured in more than 80 exhibitions and 12 publications. Both private collectors and public institutions, including galleries, museums, and government departments in New Zealand and abroad, have commissioned his work.
Despite his success, he remains dedicated to his roots and the principles that guide his creative journey. Robin's art is a reflection of his life's experiences, his connections with others, and his commitment to preserving and sharing Māori culture. His story, like his work, is a testament to the power of art as a means of connection, expression, and cultural preservation.