Anna Scott, Tauhou Whanaungatanga

Tauhou Whanaungatanga

From the In the Grain Series
By Anna Scott

Tauhou Whanaungatanga is part of Anna Scott’s reflective In the Grain series — a collection shaped in collaboration with the timber itself. In this body of work, the natural grain guides the composition, allowing forms and movement to emerge organically from the patterns within the wood. Rather than imposing imagery, the artist listens, responds, and works alongside the whenua, creating pieces that feel as though they are revealed rather than made.

This artwork honours the tauhou (silvereye), a small but dynamic bird known for its social nature and cooperative behaviour within the forest. Here, the birds gather as a collective — a living expression of whanaungatanga, the bonds of relationship, community, and shared purpose.

Anna captures the tauhou in motion as they skip from branch to branch, grooming the forest and preparing the next layer of growth. Their lively presence mirrors the quiet strength found in working together, in supporting the health of the environment, and in moving in harmony with one another.

Touches of gold leaf accentuate their movement, elevating the simple beauty of this everyday scene. The shimmer becomes a visual echo of connection — the golden threads that bind communities, species, and ecosystems together.

Tauhou Whanaungatanga is a celebration of unity, cooperation, and the collective care that sustains the natural world.

Media: Sealed pencil on ply timber with gold leaf
Dimensions: 610 × 1230 mm
Series: In the Grain
Artist: Anna Scott – Taranaki, Aotearoa