Ebb and Flow

The day before the conception of the idea for the piece, I had visited the Auckland art gallery, where I saw a monumental painting titled : Te Poho o Hine-Moana. Next to the piece was the an inscription containing a quote; "The erosion of the earth by the sea is a ceaseless cycle.". While this stood out to me in the moment, I had no idea the profound impact it would have on me.

The following night, a group of us were at the pub, after a few drinks we wandered over to the beach for a walk and a quieter place to chat.

I couldn't get out that phrase from my head. Swimming yet sinking, a push and pull, life eroding my tired body, the air I breathe, recycled, exchanged... I feebly sketched out what I thought I could see. What I could feel. The clear distinction between light, land and sky, the movement of cold crashing waves and the sand being collected by the water and our feet.

From February to June 2025 this idea plagued me as my life changed around me, I felt I was the earth and time was the sea.

I laughed, cried, contemplated and experienced new things and new people as the sea and its lights watched me.

I think this painting went from an interesting idea to a love letter to the sea, and a thank you for understanding that this infinite 'ceaseless cycle' did not truely erode me or the sea, but simply shaped, and reshaped it to fit its ever changing environment. Forever changing, growing, adapting, forever still the sea.