Owen Mapp

Owen Thomas Mapp CNZM (born 1945) is a New Zealand carver who works primarily in bone.

Mapp in 2019

Biography

Born on a farm outside Blenheim in 1945,[1] Mapp was educated at Nelson College from 1960 to 1963.[2] He started working in museums while at high school and developed a strong interest in archaeology.[1] He also worked early in his career as a designer for film and television.[3]

Mapp began carving with whale ivory, whale bone and cow bone in 1969.[4] He became the first contemporary professional bone carver in New Zealand.[5] His first exhibition was at Wellington's Bett-Duncan Gallery in 1972.[4] At this time he also became involved with the New Zealand chapter of the World Craft Council (later the Craft Council of New Zealand) and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts which helped him promote his work and through which he also organised workshops to demonstrate bone carving.[4]

In 1990, he received a QEII Arts Council (now Creative New Zealand) study grant and established a connection with Japanese netsuke carvers.[5] He continues to exhibit in Japan and his work has been acquired by the Japanese royal family.[5] Mapp tutors at Whitireia New Zealand in the Visual Arts and Design programme.[6]

In his survey of three-dimensional arts in New Zealand in 1980, Peter Cape wrote, 'Mapp prefers to think of the items he carves in bone and ivory as handpieces or, as he says, 'three-dimensional sculptures to be worn on the body or carried in the pocket, to be held, fondled, and not just looked art'.'[3]

Personal life

Mapp has two daughters with his partner potter Anneke Borren.[7]

References
  1. Dastgheib, Shabnam (20 April 2010). "Mapping out a carving career". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  2. "Full school list of Nelson College, 1856–2005". Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006 (CD-ROM) (6th ed.). 2006.
  3. Cape, Peter (1980). Please touch : a survey of the three-dimensional arts in New Zealand. Auckland: Collins. p. 68. ISBN 0002169576.
  4. Salt, Donn (2005). Stone, bone and jade (New ed.). Auckland, N.Z.: David Bateman. p. 72. ISBN 1869531108.
  5. Schamroth, Helen (1998). 100 New Zealand Craft Artists. Auckland: Godwit Press. ISBN 1869620364.
  6. "Owen Mapp". Whitireia New Zealand. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  7. Wilton, Louise (30 March 1985). "Black and white". NZ Listener.

Further reading
  • Damian Skinner and Kevin Murray, 'Place and adornment : a history of contemporary jewellery in Australia and New Zealand', Honolulu : University of Hawaiʻi Press, 2014. ISBN 9781454702771


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