“Waterfall is a response to the McCahon paintings, titled Waterfall, that feature a simple pared down image of water cascading over land. The minimal approach McCahon uses to capture flowing water becomes the basis of patterns of light in this new painting. In my potted waterfall, these patterns echo and foreshadow the manaia form, as it turns inward, around, and interacts with the tiki. Either side a head forms, an eye, an arm, a body, symmetrically. The tiki is Tāne Mahuta, the god of forest and birds (and the tallest standing Kauri in Aotearoa). He stands tall and breaks from the confines of his father, Ranginui, and his mother Papatūānuku. During this process, light fills the world and Ranginui and Papatūānuku are forever separated. We are reminded of the power of Tāne everyday; the cyclic patterns that allow for transformation while maintaining continuity and balance between all living things.”

– Shane Cotton, 2020