In Andrew’s Huia Pair, Dr Fiona Pardington presents a male and female huia in quiet repose, their distinct beaks subtly signalling the natural duality of the species. The female, with her long curved bill, faces the shorter-beaked male in a composed, almost conversational pairing. Set against a deep black ground, their wattles and white tail-feathers emerge with clarity, as if held in a moment of suspension rather than loss.

Pardington has built a significant practice around reanimating taonga from museum collections, restoring dignity to objects and specimens often removed from their original context. This work reflects that approach. Her handling of light and depth draws out each feather and contour with precision, suggesting presence rather than preservation. The black ground acts not as a void but as a frame, allowing the pair to register as companions rather than scientific subjects.

The extinction of the huia in 1907 represented both an environmental and cultural rupture. Rather than presenting that absence as an endpoint, Pardington creates space for memory and acknowledgement. The work carries a tone of quiet remembrance while resisting sentimentality. Fiona Pardington is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists. Her still-life photography has received both national and international recognition, and in 2026 she will represent New Zealand at the Venice Biennale.

Private Collection