"Pohutukawa Light" 2020

Pohutukawa Light (2020) is a one-of-a-kind wall work by New Zealand artist John Allen. Handcrafted from pōhutukawa salvaged from a fallen tree in Northland, this piece presents the timber in an entirely unexpected way — floating on glass, suspended between wall and air, suffused with light.

The pōhutukawa is finished with oil and acrylic paint, then mounted on the front of non-reflective glass with no backing board. The coloured reverse side reflects subtle light off the wall behind, giving the piece a soft, luminous quality that shifts gently with the light in the room. The effect is quiet and alive — the wood appears to hover, casting its presence into the space around it rather than simply hanging on a wall.

Framed and ready to hang, Pohutukawa Light brings the texture and warmth of the New Zealand coast indoors in a form that is entirely its own — original, one of a kind, and unlike anything else on a wall.

Specifications:

• Title: Pohutukawa Light (2020)
• Artist: John Allen
• Materials: Pōhutukawa (Northland), oil, acrylic paint, non-reflective glass, frame
• Dimensions: 280 × 280 mm
• Mounting: Wood floats on glass — no backing board; coloured reverse reflects light off the wall
• Year: 2020
• Care: Indoor display; avoid direct sunlight