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12 COROMANDEL LIFE 2016 LATE AUTUMN / WINTER
WAIKAWAU BAY
On April 23rd, with only ten days notice, 100
people joined Andres to create a community
artwork as part of a publicity event to bring
attention to the effort to keep Waikawau Bay free
from development. A memorable day in the long
history of efforts to protect this scenic treasure
(more than fifty years worth). The bay offers one of
the longest protected beaches on the peninsula.
Learn more at
Andres first laid out the spiral design at right and
others filled in the shapes with rakes on the tide
flats at the south end of Waikawau. Later more
joined in to expand the design with free-form
flowers extending outwards. “Kids, parents and
grandparents all shared a magic day together
creating art on the sand.”
Andres created a total of five mandalas along the
bay over the next few days, including the two
shown featuring more geometric shapes.
This geometric design is one of five
mandalas Amador created
on the bay’s beaches.
the mandalas of
Waikawau Bay
THE MANDALA AND OTHER FORMS
These vast round creations Andres calls
‘mandalas’ are circular forms common to many
spiritual traditions; they are used for meditation
and concentration. “The Meditational Artwork
is the more intentional side of my group large-
scale art-making”, he explains. “It is a walking
meditation, an opportunity to simultaneously focus
and release our thoughts, feelings, and desires as
we create a huge artwork together.”
Some of his art is reminiscent of a labyrinth, maze
or his original inspiration, the crop circle. Andres
draws many other patterns such as decorative
borders and individual glyph symbols, some
influenced by Aztec designs. A less structured net
design might link rocks, stressing the dynamics
of the relationship between the boulders. And of
course, his work with Maori motifs.
Most are of such immense size that unless the viewer is high on a cliff –
or happens to have a video drone – the entire creation cannot be seen.
However, one can ‘walk it’ as a co-creator, mingle in it, race through its
delightful patterns, and then mourn (or splash playfully) as the tides and
winds wipe the surface, or ‘canvas’, clean.
THEY WILL RETURN, COME NOVEMBER
On May 3 they finished their visit by completing the mandala below.
“This piece was done with friends who joined me on my last full day in
the country”, Andres shares. “I spontaneously led them in meditation
and together we came up with up with this design. It’s a ‘prayer of
appreciation’ and thanks for a fulfilling experience and more to come.
“Today we say goodbye to NZ. It’s been a full three months filled with
exploration, nature, art, and connecting with new friends. What an
amazing time! We are already planning our return by November to
continue the ‘ Lines’ project in which I will collaborate with traditional
Maori artists. I will also offer public workshops and demonstrations.”
“I hope to inspire others – offer the message that the path is more
important than the destination, that the journey should be the focus.
When one is experiencing joy, then the world also receives that joy.
And the world can always use more joy.”
“After being all over NZ, I have found that it is rare to have
such a long stretch of beach without development.
The natural wild areas of NZ are a fragment of
what they were, and it is a gift to be able
to experience this at Waikawau Bay.”
– Andres Amador
See all the highlights in one hour
on this Kiwi favourite Cathedral Cove boat tour.
Departs Hahei Beach, 10 minutes from Hot Water Beach.
Phone 07 866 3910 •
CATHEDRAL COVE TOUR
Hahei, Coromandel Peninsula
THE ORIGINAL
HAHEI EXPLORER
EST 1992