Huia 1907
By Anna Scott
Huia 1907 is a powerful tribute to one of Aotearoa’s most treasured birds, now lost to history. As part of Anna Scott’s ongoing Erased Series, this work reflects on extinction, memory, and the lessons we carry forward.
Created on an original classroom chalkboard, the piece reimagines the huia as both a presence and an echo — a reminder of what once lived richly within our forests. The use of chalk, conte, charcoal, and pastel is carefully considered: these are materials designed to be temporary, to be wiped clean, yet here they are preserved permanently through archival sealing.
This tension between permanence and erasure lies at the heart of the series. Chalkboards, once central to learning, hold the symbolism of education and responsibility. Chalk itself — a medium meant to disappear — becomes a poignant metaphor for how easily our natural history can fade if not protected. By choosing to work on a surface designed for teaching, Anna invites viewers to reflect on the knowledge we inherit and the choices we make.
Huia 1907 asks us to look back with honesty and forward with intention — a quiet reminder that how we treat our environment today shapes what will remain for tomorrow to remember.
Media: Chalk, conte, charcoal, and pastel on original chalkboard and frame
Dimensions: 1820 x 900 mm
Finish: Sealed for archival longevity
Series: Erased Series
Artist: Anna Scott – Taranaki, Aotearoa
