The Light Box

Artist: Peata Larkin

Year: 2020

Location: Park Hyatt Auckland, inside the foyer

Located in the foyer of the Park Hyatt Auckland, this monumental 11-metre-wide artwork by Peata Larkin is a striking fusion of tradition and innovation. Drawing on distinctive geometric Māori patterns, the piece has been woven, painted, and illuminated with embedded LEDs to evoke themes of protection, strength, and the pathway toward the sea.

Constructed from multiple layers of acrylic gauze—painted on both sides and intricately pushed through itself—the work echoes the techniques of traditional Māori tukutuku weaving. These decorative woven lattices, often crafted from flax, are traditionally found between carved pou (posts) in communal buildings such as a wharenui (meeting house). Larkin’s contemporary interpretation brings this ancestral form into a dynamic, modern setting.