A series of 3 inspired by Mondrian’s “Red Tree”. I’ve travelled the Nuhaka-Mahia road to Mahanga beach for 50+ years now – it’s a bit remote out here, the gravel has been only recently sealed, not wide enough for a centre line, no signposts for the tricky 90 degree corners at both ends of this section.
This tree has always dominated this stretch, I can’t remember if or when it when it was small. However, when we went up there last summer shortly after I finished this pic it was gone, sawn into bits by the roadside. Given the heavy charring and already rotten trunk, maybe lightning … (stops sapflow faster than ordinary cutting does) with road safety concerns followed by Council chainsaws.
Oils 60x60cm. Sold by Exhibitions Gallery, Wellington December 2019
