Over the Mountains, Under the Sky
By Anna Scott
Over the Mountains, Under the Sky is a rare and deeply personal paper work by Anna Scott — a reflective piece created for the exhibition The Way Back Home.
This pencil drawing explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of what it means to return home. At its centre is the Kuaka (Godwit), a remarkable migratory bird known for its record-breaking journey from Alaska to Aotearoa. Its endurance, purpose, and instinctive pull toward home mirror our own search for belonging and the profound relationship we share with the land.
A pivotal moment in Anna’s own journey home is captured in the subtle outline of Mt Taranaki, sketched softly beneath the soaring bird. The first glimpse of the maunga from Pātea — a moment of both arrival and remembrance — anchors this work in place and memory.
The detailed rendering of the Kuaka contrasts with the gentle, atmospheric presence of the mountain, creating a visual metaphor: the bird’s resilience and movement set against the maunga’s quiet guardianship. Together, they speak to our role as kaitiaki — caretakers of the land — and to the reciprocal relationship between people and place.
Through this artwork, Anna reflects on home as more than geography. Home is a spiritual connection, a responsibility, and a legacy. By caring for the natural world, we ensure it remains a sanctuary for those who follow. Like the Kuaka navigating vast oceans to return to its nesting grounds, may we each find our way back to the essence of home — grounded in respect, belonging, and the landscapes that shape us.
Media: Pencil on archival paper
Dimensions: 700 × 1000 mm
Artist: Anna Scott – Taranaki, Aotearoa
