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Journal

Life's journey

Journeys, circularity and transience were the themes at our appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival featuring our book Fine Line last week. Thanks go to Kennedy Warne for ably handling the conversation with both of us around these ideas.

While the Fine Line film played at full volume on the huge screen in Aotea Square five times a day, the quiet of the auditorium allowed Kennedy’s thoughtful questions to be explored. Having been editor of New Zealand Geographic magazine which featured the first article about our work in 1996 and a substantial article 10 years later about our exploration of the ecology of a significant stream in West Auckland, the Opanuku, he was familiar with the journey trope central to our life and work.

Transience of course alluded to the ephemerality of our work and we told the story of Fine Line Madagascar where the sculpture was constructed of grass in the valley and transported to its lofty location and next day after it was carefully photographed our guide and porter threw it off the top, to the amazement of the villagers below.

Circularity was described accurately by Kennedy as one of our three central truths: Life is circular, nothing is permanent, everything is connected. 

We also showed images of working together and our life in Wanaka and at question time we were inevitably asked “What’s next?”

We are wondering too.

2022Martin Hill