Тaharaki Skyside – BG

CNN’s “Call to Earth” series highlights Fiona Pardington’s art project, “Taharaki Skyside,” featuring taxidermic portraits of extinct and endangered New Zealand birds. The project, showcased at the Venice Biennale, aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of habitat loss and human-driven extinction on native species like the huia and whēkau, stemming from colonial exploitation and ongoing invasive species threats. Pardington’s work, emphasizing the cultural significance of these birds (“tupana”) and their connection to Māori beliefs, serves as a poignant reminder of ecological devastation and a call for increased conservation efforts in New Zealand, where numerous species face imminent extinction.