Although considered Aotearoa’s smallest bird, the Titipounamu is adaptable, and constantly on the move, a nod to the nomadic Kai Tahu people of Ōtepoti, but also the diverse South Dunedin communities of today. A resilient species around since Gondwana times, the three birds in flight make reference to the idea of South Dunedin and it’s ever shifting tides of change, from a geographical and social viewpoint.
As an acknowledgment to “industry” and the early 19th century tin smith John Eustace, we have included a paint can lid (bottom right) textural paint elements and drips, while blue water-like swirls move across the artwork representing South Dunedin’s origins as a wetland, and the three creeks that now run through the region.
A colourful burst of energy and colour is captured through the use of chrysanthemum flowers. This element pays respect to the early Chinese roots of the district. In Chinese culture, the chrysanthemum symbolises longevity – an appropriate link to the ever changing shape of the communities and landscapes of South Dunedin.