Black Phoenix 1988

"Black Phoenix" (1988) is a powerful installation by New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere (1931-2013). The artwork features a series of charred timber planks arranged in a symmetrical pattern on the floor and against the wall. The central piece, a triangular shape, resembles a boat or a prow, symbolizing journeys and the artist's Māori heritage. The blackened wood evokes a sense of history, loss, and the fragility of life. The gold paint highlights the artist's interest in Maori art and history, and the fragmented nature of the work reflects the brokenness of a colonial past.