06/06/2026
"High atop Mt Wellington, Aucklanders are confronted by a well-known view-the grand, winding form of Tฤmaki Estuary. This body of water plays host to an unending array of life forms, many of which suffer from contamination caused by human pollution.
This project seeks to change the lens through which people view their local surroundings and deepen their appreciation for the environment. To see is to perceive meaning, and to perceive meaning is to develop a personal connection. New ways of seeing may help to capture the attention of those who are otherwise not involved or not aware of the efforts to restore and protect the estuary.
Little samples from sites around the estuary were delicately scooped into vials, cut, prepared, and studied under the scanning electron microscope at Auckland University of Technology. The resulting set of micrographs seeks to reveal the unusual, diverse, and startling beauty of familiar objects. These images hint at the complexity of life on a micro-scale but also reveal their fragility. Awe of these tiny worlds can help drive preservation." - Jessica Kate
Left to right, object (magnification)
Top: bird feather (x35), flax stalk (xl 000), Pohutukawa flower (x2200)
Bottom: bivalve seashell (x600), leaf skeleton (x30), leaf blade (x300)
The 20th Estuary Art and Ecology Awards are generously funded by Auckland Councilโs Howick Local Board and supported by the Tฤmaki Estuary Protection Society, the Rice Family Partnership, and Gordon Harris The Art & Graphic Store.
