Summer’s Shimmering Skin: Light and trees intertwining

Suzy Costello

13 September - 9 October 2026

In a world filled with human voices, how do we build a silent void to hear and acknowledge other Life forms? This is the crux of my art practice, and of all the ‘more-than-human’ beings, it is the generosity of trees that speaks to my heart.

This work describes a moment of entanglement between trees, light and me when drawing the East Harbour Forest on a summer’s day…

‘Trees transform light into a consumable and universally available commodity, into a force that animates all of the bodies that exist on Gaia: the planet's mineral flesh is metamorphosed to receive light within. Thanks to them, food is a secret trade in light that is consumed from body to body.

Through this intertwining, the perception of the world experienced by each living species passes first and foremost, albeit unconsciously and imperceptibly, through our experience of trees’ (Emanuele Coccia, Experiencing the World).

Suzy is a multi-discipline artist living in Te Whanganui-o-Tara and working at The Learning Connexion.

Instagram: @suzy_costello