Sun shall not burn Thee by day nor moon by night

Don Binney has said that 'the act of painting is a concrete expression of a continuing personal dialogue with my environment . . . Any good drawing or painting is to my mind an external gesture towards, or celebration of, those truths upon which we focus to sustain and extend our spiritual priorities'. Emotionally committed to the rugged coastal area of the Waitakere ranges on the west coast of Auckland, Binney reminds us of the fragility of the New Zealand environment. The title of this work comes from Psalm 121, which begins, 'I lift up my eyes to the hills / From whence does my help come?'. The psalmist goes on to assert the reality of God's care, but Binney seems to suggest that we have to work with God in caring for and protecting our world. These hills at Te Henga have become a touchstone for Binney who through years of observation has developed an intense knowledge of New Zealand native bush and birdlife. The mätätä or fernbird, a rare and almost flightless creature, appears against its wetland habitat, separated from the wild Te Henga coastine by a line of dark hills. Don Binney lectured in painting for many years at the University of Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts and his simplified forms, strong outlines and clear light have coalesced into a powerful signature style. (from The Guide, 2001)

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