Details

The Hanging Sky showcases twenty years of Shane Cotton’s evolution as one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed painters. Known for works that explore place, belonging, and bicultural identity, Cotton’s art took a striking turn in the 2000s with his skyscapes—vast, nocturnal spaces dominated by birds in flight, rendered in a sombre palette of blues and blacks.

This book brings together essays and reflections from leading voices in art and literature. Poet Eliot Weinberger meditates on Cotton’s “ghosts of birds,” Justin Paton shares six years of encounters with the artist’s work, Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow examines the haunting presence of toi moko, and IMA Director Robert Leonard situates Cotton as a cultural surrealist exploring the treachery of images.

Why Readers Will Love This Book:
• Retrospective on Shane Cotton’s twenty-year career, highlighting skyscapes
• Explores themes of place, belonging, bicultural identity, and cultural surrealism
• Features essays and reflections by leading writers and art critics
• Richly illustrated with Cotton’s iconic paintings and artworks
• Ideal for art enthusiasts, collectors, and students of contemporary New Zealand art

Product Details:
• Author: Justin Paton
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9781877375255
• Ideal for adults, art collectors, students, and readers interested in contemporary New Zealand art and Maori cultural narratives

Disclaimer: Colour variation – we try to ensure images match the actual product; slight variations may occur due to device colour settings.