Tui over Kauri, Te Henga

An acute observer, Don Binney’s knowledge and skills allow him to record the fragile balance between bird species and their habitats – the regenerating bush and remnants of the kauri forests in the Waitakere Ranges, which were felled to provide timber for houses in Auckland and beyond. In Tui over Kauri, Te Henga, he reminds us of the visual clarity of this exposed environment, where the land plunges into the Tasman Sea and the clearly defined horizon is a constant visual element.

The eroded outcrops, themselves often nesting places for sea birds, and the gentle curve of light-modulated hills descending into shadowy bush – all are instantly recognisable. Binney’s powerful compositions, stylised imagery and textured paint surfaces combine to form iconic images which continue to resonate for New Zealanders.

See more detail about this artwork