Brett Graham’s work 34.04 N 118.52 W forms part of an ongoing series Graham commenced in 2012 titled Tangaroa piri whare. The series takes its name from the Māori expression that describes the omnipresent power of the sea. Legend tells that Tangaroa, god of the sea, was the first to create a Māori carving, abducting Manuruhi, son of Ruatepupuke, and transforming him into a wood carving to adorn his house beneath the sea. The works make tribute to Tangaroa in different ways, reflecting upon his mana and ability to shape and transform our world on both land and sea. Recent works in the series have focused on sites of trauma on the planet, where the lines converge on a specific point, the ‘ground zero’ of impact. 34.04 N 118.52 W refers to the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles. In each work, Graham’s carvings resemble a shield, a form of protection, real or imaginary, with which to avert disaster, malevolence, and misunderstandings.