Diving in the Pouakai

Acrylic and matte-finished resin on board
1220 × 1220 mm
Framed in black
April 2023
$7800

The Pāhautea trees scattered across the upper Pouakai ranges, with their gnarled, twisted limbs, feel almost sentient — ancient guardians watching over the land. As I walk the tracks, their forms stir my imagination, conjuring creatures hidden within the bush. They entertain me like characters from a childhood tale, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. In their tangled limbs, I see a seamless merging of human spirit and the natural world. These particular beings appeared mid-dive, tumbling joyfully into the green canopy as I wandered past — playful, mysterious, and alive in the moment.