Artwork Information

The bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, by French military agents in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 introduced terrorism into New Zealand. From such a tragic event, Hanly created a birds-eye view of the Waitemata harbour. He transformed the boat into a ‘hope vessel or ark’.

By using a local disaster as the starting point for his series of paintings, Hanly reinforced his reputation as an artist who celebrates life and the living. (Golden, 2004)