Robert Ellis is a highly regarded New Zealand artist. Although primarily known as a painter, Ellis has worked in many mediums including etching, tapestry, lithography, photography and video. It is his Motorways period (1960-74), which explored the rapid development and urbanisation of Auckland City, has been called “one of the most sustained and significant contributions to painting in New Zealand.” Examples have been on display in the Wellington Central Library.

Over the following years, Ellis went on to explore elements of New Zealand Māori and European identities, drawing observations from personal as well as social perspectives. Using a visual language rich with symbolism this artwork, Kuparu (in English this species of fish is known as John Dory) investigates the multiplicity of histories contained in the land: geological, environmental, European, Māori, political, private. These narratives combine to create a deep, abiding, and spiritual sense of place in Ellis’ works.