Out of the Woods; Te-Wao-Nui-a Tane
25 September-10 November 2004

Jane Zusters casts a wry look at the way in which Tane, Monarch of the Glen, and his children the birds have had their dominion cut down. Their homes and habitats have been milled, planed, sanded and smoothed to become "Sovereign" timber souvenirs.
Using found "Sovereign" timber objects Zusters playfully reflects how the primordial forest of these islands has been put on our coffee tables,mantelpieces and pencil cases.
Laid on the ground on parquet tiles, assembled in a "hopscotch game are a range of domestic paraphernalia such as pokerwood trays decorated with birds appropriated from Buller's iconographic aviary. This hopscotch shape references a formation used in ancient times by Roman soldiers rehearsing battle games and campaign strategies. This type of military assault course used to toughen the most hardened of centurions, was copied by children and turned into a game.
In New Zealand school playgrounds the game omits the square at the top representing heaven found in the European version. In her configuration Zusters makes the extinct huia occupy this space, since in modern times, literally, the long dead species huia live only in heaven.

Through the medium of digital video Zusters also thinks about representing the land as it is now and as it was before. In fast food for thought wily kaha feeding convivially are tensely juxtaposed with the processed anonymity of a McDonald's drive-in. You want fries with that?

Cushla Parekowhai