Louis Chretien was born in 1998 in Cambodia. Orphan at birth, he was adopted and raised in Paris, France.
In 2013 he followed his mother to her native New Zealand. Louis quickly embraced the culture of his mother’s ancestors. Her great, great grandmoter, Erena Pareraukawa (1825-1900) was a Maori princess whose ancestors came to Aotearoa in the Tainui canoe. She married a Frenchman, Louis Dihars, around 1845. Louis studied Maori Visual Arts at Te Wananga O Aotearoa under the tutelage of Cory Boyd and Bob Te Huia.
Since 2018 Louis has been carving Maori artifacts for educational institutions and has been concentrating on commissions for private collectors.
Louis lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand.

Māori carvers used native woods to carve from canoes to totems, decorations,weapons and tools.
Macrocarpa, mostly used by Louis, is a soft wood , easy to work but hard wearing too and able to withstand wood worms as it possesses natural repelling oils. Louis carves also more expensive native woods likeTōtara or Pukatea.
Louis utilizes also Pāua (abalone) shells often used by Māori carvers often to illuminate the eyes.

The Adze (or Toki) are tools used to shape a log and start a carving.

The Chisels (or Whao) are used for the more intricate designs. These are many and varied and each has its specific purpose.

Carving is an ancestral tradition in Māori culture. This art form has been used through generations until today to communicate Māori knowledge, preserve traditions, document life and events inside the life of the community or of individual people.
Māori carvings are rich in symbolism may represent a person, an ancestor, an event or a combination of these elements. Symbols include the tiki, which represents the human figure, and the manaia, a creature with bird-like head and serpent-like body, associated with guardianship.
Māori Style carvings are ideal to celebrate family events (birthdays, anniversaries, weddings), interior or garden decoration.

Louis produces carving made to order. He draws original designs reflecting what person, event, location you wish to represent and celebrate. He will send a design and a quote including the expedition costs.

Please send your request to contact@louischretien.art

Please :
- Define Type of carving : Poupou (Panel), Parata or Koruru (Masks), Wheku (Human face), Taiaha (Spear), Koru symbol, Pare (Lintel)
- For Poupou, specify desired dimensions
- Specify if you wish another wood than Macrocarpa : Tōtara, Pukatea
- Specify where you want to display the carving : indoor, outdoor and for which purpose
- Specify what you want to celebrate : anniversary, birthday, a person, special event and the intended message (good fortune, celebration of nature, …) that you wish to project
- Indicate destination where the carving will have to be sent (City, Country)
- Precise your name, email address and your Whatsapp or Skype contact