Mate O Huia by Shane Hansen

Handsprayed stencilled Huia with hand sprinkled glitter effect. Handsprayed stencilled kupu MATE

As explained by Shane:

I have always avoided doing pieces that include our extinct species, particularly because we wiped them out and it's a sad and frustrating indictment on our species. My feelings for our actions remain the same, but I wanted to do a piece about Huia and how the beauty, uniqueness, curiosity and partnership dependency led to it's unfortunate demise.

'The Book of the Huia' by W.J.Phillipps, was gifted to my father by his parents on Christmas 1964. I've always been fascinated by the photos and illustrations within. Folded and secured under the front side of the tattered dust cover, huia newspaper clippings collected over two decades by my grandfather and father, lay in rest. I've redrawn and relayed these illustrations for the background of this print. In addition, concept sketches, my style, join these historical portraits. Buller, Walter is here too. I have redrawn this portrait from one found online, in scribbles and fine lines, thus giving an ere of time, a mood. His quote taken from source, with no sauce. This too, of its time.