Spiritus - Rapa Nui

2016

Easter Island is an enigma. It is the most isolated place on the planet, 2400 miles from nearest land. Upon its “discovery” by Europeans in 1722 it was a place that had been recently ravaged by a collapse of its ecology and ethnicity. It was de-forested and the indigenous tribes were in a state of suspended chaos. Yet, despite it’s savage history Easter Island remains an intensely spiritual and sacred place, it is palpable. The greatest legacy left by the first peoples are the Moais. These are representations of the great chiefs of the many different tribes that were here. The Ahu is a sacred and powerful place. Yet the fervent expansion of the Moai cult eventually led to total de-forestation and collapse of the ecosystem. Today the Moais remain the connection to this ancient and proud people. They have endured the ravages of inter-tribal warfare, European discovery and tsunami.

A moai statue silhouetted against the sky with a distant row of figures on Rapa Nui

Two weathered moai heads rising from grass beneath bright clouds

A rounded stone figure near the rocky coast of Rapa Nui

A weathered moai head on a grassy slope with another statue behind

Four moai wearing stone topknots beneath billowing clouds

A panoramic line of moai statues beneath a cloud-filled sky

Moai statues rising from a sloping grassy hillside

A solitary moai viewed from below against streaked clouds

A dark moai silhouette with a row of statues in the distance

A moai with a large stone topknot against a dramatic sky

A squat stone figure beneath bright clouds on Rapa Nui

A tall moai photographed from below on a rocky rise

A green volcanic crater and distant ocean on Rapa Nui

A row of moai statues beneath sweeping clouds in black and white

A grazing horse in front of a distant row of moai statues

Two weathered moai heads embedded in a grassy hillside

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