Willie Apiata and the Tough Decision
His life intersected with important cultural periods and places
through the eyes of those who work with these paintings
mark him out as a distinctive figure in twentieth-century art
Between them they had a wide social network
Colin McCahon, 'Koru, 1, 2, 3', 1965 - Print Toa Tamariki Curated Willie Apiata and the ToughIn 1965, Colin McCahon was becoming increasingly interested in Maori culture, and exploring the use of numerals as forms and symbols in his art. Here, he combines these two interests, giving the numerals the frond like forms of the koru a spiral motif found in Maori art. Like so much of McCahons work, Koru, 1, 2, 3 is also underpinned by Christian ideas. The three part painting refers to the Trinity God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Other