Pekapeka/Long-Tailed Bat

Pekapeka/Long-Tailed Bat - Waiwhauwhaupaku/Swanson’s Special Species

TITLE: Flight Path

ARTIST: Camille Joy

MEDIUM: Acrylic on wooden board

DIMENSIONS: 740mm diameter

A quiet guardian of the night, the pekapeka-tou-roa follows flight paths we rarely see. Set in Waiwhauwhaupaku (Swanson), this work honours a taonga species and a place close to home.

The movement of the Waiwhauwhaupaku Stream and the glossy whauwhaupaku leaves ground the piece in its landscape and history. Light cuts through darkness—reflected on water, caught on leaves, carried in motion.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5

Known for her evocative use of light, symbolism, and connection to place, Camille Joy creates works that weave narrative, ecology, and emotion. Her practice brings quiet stories into focus, inviting viewers to see the unseen and to recognise the fragile strength of the natural world.