Clare Reilly
b. 1960
Resides Waitati, Ōtākou Otago
At Boat Harbour, Snares Island, vegetation like Hebe elliptica (Shore hebe) hugs the rocky shoreline, and Olearia lyallii (Tree daisy) and Brachyglottis stewartiae (Coastal tree daisy) form a dense canopy above.
In her work, Standing His Ground, Clare Reilly paints a beautifully serene depiction of the aforementioned lush green scene; placing the petit Snares Island Tomtit out in front of this pristine backdrop.
The New Zealand tomtit species is known for its adaptibility in its use of a variety of habitats, from sea level to the subalpine zone. The tomtits on Snares Islands inhabit forest; shrubland; and tussock areas with scattered shrubs, across the islands. With strict biosecurity rules, including no people allowed to land, or step ashore, the islands are protected and entirely free of introduced predatory mammals, like rats and mice. In Standing His Ground, Clare paints us a view of this narrative; as the viewer becomes the painter, looking through her eyes towards Snares Island from Boat Harbour, as if aboard a Zodiac dingy, experiencing a slither of the flora and fauna of Snares Island from the sea.
‘As my work has evolved over the years, the themes of connection with the natural environment, loss of habitats, and the need for awareness of protecting what we have remaining, have been important aspects of my paintings. I have been involved with various conservation projects that have enabled me to give something back to the protection of wildlife and the habitats they need to survive.’