Anna Scott, PĪWAKAWAKA THE MESSENGER

Pīwakawaka the Messenger

From the In the Grain Series
By Anna Scott

Pīwakawaka the Messenger forms part of Anna Scott’s contemplative In the Grain series — a body of work where the natural grain of the timber leads the creative process. Rather than imposing imagery onto the surface, Anna works in harmony with the wood, allowing its patterns, movement, and energy to guide the composition. The grain becomes both canvas and collaborator, revealing forms that feel as though they have always belonged there.

This approach requires a gentle surrender — an act of letting go, observing, and listening. It reflects the way our natural environment speaks to us when we are willing to slow down enough to hear it. Through sealed pencil on ply, the artist enriches what the timber already holds, honouring its voice while adding her own.

In Pīwakawaka the Messenger, a cluster of pīwakawaka appear to dance across the wooden surface, their lively movements mirroring the playful, yet purposeful, presence they carry in the ngahere. Traditionally viewed as messengers and guides between realms, the pīwakawaka dart effortlessly between Te Ao Wairua (the spiritual world) and Te Ao Tūroa (the natural world), returning kōrero, impressions, and connections from our gaudians.

The swirling grain in the timber enhances this sense of movement — as though the birds are weaving through currents of unseen energy. Their small bodies and expressive wings become conduits for whispered messages that sit just beyond the ordinary, bridging what we know with what we feel.

Pīwakawaka the Messenger holds space for guidance, intuition, and the quiet signs our environment offers when we are willing to pay attention.

Media: Sealed pencil on ply timber
Dimensions: 1030 × 1130 mm
Series: In the Grain
Artist: Anna Scott – Taranaki, Aotearoa