Nocturnal, Limited Edition Print on canvas

Paula Coulthard’s Nocturnal is a celebration of the New Zealand night, bringing together the familiar landscape, the ruru and the handmade details of a rural gathering.

At the centre of the work sits a bright, alert ruru perched on an old farm post—carved by a farmer and weathered by time. Behind it is a quintessential New Zealand landscape, with Mt Taranaki rising in the distance, viewed from the west.

Look more closely and the night becomes a celebration. Hanging shapes and patterns evoke homemade decorations made from whatever materials were at hand. Stars reference those of the New Zealand flag, while the distinctive eight-pointed star draws inspiration from the United Tribes flag. Diamond forms reference Māori patterns, including one woven from flax.

Touches of foil bring another layer of nostalgia, inspired by old tinfoil milk-bottle tops flattened and hung from string to catch the light.

Together, these elements create a joyful, distinctly New Zealand nocturnal scene—part landscape, part memory and part celebration.

Limited Edition of 30

This print is produced on canvas and is supplied unstretched and unframed.

The canvas size is 900mm x 1330mm