Living artist
Tom Koene is a craftsman tiler - and an artist. He was born in the Netherlands and learned his craft doing restoration in Amsterdam, learning traditional methods and styles.
Tom has worked in New Zealand since 1982. One day he was asked to do the tiling on the gecko that lies beside Khyber Pass Rd, under the motorway. Since then he has not looked back. Some of his work is traditional, like Mexican bathrooms, but most is entirely unique, while influenced by Friederich Hundertwasser, an unusual and rebellious Austrian artist who also came to live in New Zealand and who designed the famous toilet block in Kawakawa.
Tom's designs are playful, anarchic, and finely detailed with tiles that are hugely variable and often unique, with imperfections from the production process that give them curious colours and textures. 95% of the tiles are created and hand glazed in New Zealand. Included also may be pieces of pottery and stones, all skilfully integrated into free flowing forms, like flowers and koru, and patterns that lead to discoveries of new resonances over time and space each day.
Examples of Tom’s work include bathrooms and kitchens, indoor and outdoor patios and walls, paths, steps, pool areas, arches, barbeques, baths, benches, murals, birdbaths, pillars and other free-standing structures. In my case it was an ensuite, and Tom welcomed my collaboration and help, although mainly in preparation of tiles, rather than design, which I soon learned was best left to the master, after defining the scope and dimensions.
The results are delightful and professional, works of art that can never be repeated. Thank you, Tom for catching that sense of fun and colour and bringing it into my home, to give me a sense of childhood delight each day.
For more pics: insta@tom_organic_tiling
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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37.7% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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62.3% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Energy Resilience & Security
“India is facing a highly precarious situation for its energy security if the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most critical oil shipping chokepoint – remains closed amidst the escalating Middle East crisis.”
Can you imagine how easy it is to choke New Zealand’s supply of oil & gas if it ever found itself in a conflict situation? How easy it is to blow up a 1 Billion Dollar LNG facility? Evan as a non-combatant like India you can be badly effected.
How about distributed solar installations on tens of thousands of roofs? Supported by distributed wind and tidal power?
Alternative energy won’t make companies rich - but it beats coal, oil, gas on not only price but security, resilience (just ask Ukraine), job creation, and the environment hands down.
It’s a no-brainer - unless you are a profit-oriented used car salesman … how did NZ ever end up with him? Nearly as bad as Trump.
🎉 Riddle me this, legends! 🎉
He/She who makes it, sells it.
He/She who buys it, doesn't use it.
The user doesn't know they are using it.
What is it?
(Shezz from Ngāruawāhia kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Shezz!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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