Philippa works on Autumn Leaf Circle, Clutha River, Wanaka
Our collaboration
Since we met in 1994 Philippa Jones and I have collaborated in the making of our environmental sculptures. We have travelled to some of the worlds wildest places together often to mountain regions where we have climbed together and made some of the most significant works especially those on the Fine Line Project.
Though we are different in many ways we work together intuitively. We also have complementary skills. Philippa recognises ideas immediately and has very good practical skills. All the time we are working with only what nature provides and her resourcefulness is invaluable. Collaborating is something that comes naturally to us because our work is inseparable from our lives.
- Martin Hill
At our home and studio, Mt Iron, Wanaka 2005
Making 2000 Shells in 1998. Auckland’s West Coast beach, Kari Kari
Our art practice
Philippa and I are inspired every day by nature all around us because we chose to live and work in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
Our studio has a reflecting pool which reminds me that each of us is made up of mostly water that flows through all life. Many of our sculptures are made in association with natural bodies of water, and often the reflection in a lake, a river or a lagoon completes the circle visually. Our intention is to refer to the need to mimic cyclical natural systems in the design and manufacture of our manmade systems.
The sculptures are made from natural materials found at the site and soon return to nature to become a resource for new life. All that remains is my photograph. In this way the art is a metaphor for biomimicry, utilising nature’s regenerative design.
I try to photograph the sculptures in such a way as to provoke a deep human response that leads to closer understanding and use of these cyclical processes of nature that we call nature’s design.
In the new circular economy businesses and social systems are designed with principles learned from natural systems. Innovations run on renewable energy in cooperative relationships with one another, these cyclical systems eliminate waste and deliver multiple benefits. They out compete linear harmful models making them obsolete.
What has art got to do with this? Changing to a new model of progress that does not destroy the living world on which life relies, requires us to use a new way of thinking called systems thinking. I believe art can help trigger this change and inspire us to look at problems as opportunities for innovation from which multiple beneficial outcomes increase wellbeing for all.
- Martin Hill
Martin Hill and Philippa Jones at Inter Gallery, Beijing. Photograph Ian Macdonald
I have had the pleasure to live, travel and work with Martin in many wild natural places. Adapting to nature is a significant element in our art practice and a vital lesson from nature has been that we are not in charge: Nature rules, not us. In our many years of working together we have certainly learned to recognise our place in nature – and we are humbled by it.
The partnership we formed enabled us to share a sense of purpose. Working creatively towards a common goal we need to rely on each other in sometimes trying situations and this has become the bedrock of our relationship. This body of work made over three decades demonstrates our commitment to art for change.
Experiencing nature is the best way to understand natural systems and our relationship with them.
- Philippa Jones
Watershed project. Working on Alpine Ice Circle, Albert Burn Saddle, New Zealand, 2012
Exhibitions
Researching and working on projects that lead to the creation of a body of work based on a subject or theme, has resulted in invitations to exhibit solo exhibitions both in New Zealand and internationally. This has become our preferred way of working because it results in a coherent series of works and enables the underlying inspiration behind the work to be expressed thoroughly.
Temporal Landscapes exhibition. Inter Gallery, 798 District, Beijing, China. 2014
Biography
Martin Hill was born and educated in art and design in London, England where he worked as a graphic designer.
To explore wild places and climb mountains he travelled overland to the Himalaya from London, lived in Kenya and climbed extensively before moving to New Zealand in 1975 where he founded his own award-winning design company.
He became an environmental artist in 1992 and met Philippa Jones in 1994 when they became partners and began their collaboration making Land Art.
Hill’s acclaimed photographs of their sculptures have been published, exhibited and collected widely internationally and featured in three books Hill designed: Nature Works 1997, Earth to Earth 2007, and Fine Line 2021.
Philippa Jones is New Zealand born. Her university training in art history and creative background as a craft basketmaker and her freelance feature writing on topics including design, architecture and environmental issues make her an invaluable generalist. Her partnership and collaboration with Hill is essential to their Land Art practice around the world.
Hill and Jones are recipients of awards and residencies in New Zealand, Antarctica, China, Japan, Andorra, Australia, France, Italy, UK, USA.
Martin and Philippa. Lake Wanaka, 2022. Photographed by Alan Dove.
Fine art prints
Our hand made land art prints are made by a master print maker under our supervision. Each print is made from the original optimised image file by Martin Hill. It is titled, signed and numbered under the image area by Martin Hill.
Print specification: Each print is one of a limited edition. Edition size is indicated on each print and specified in each print description. The image area of the prints in these editions is quoted. Paper size adds an 80mm white border for framing purposes.
Using our images
Our Land Art photographs have such strong emotional impact that they are used by businesses and organisations in their visual communications, they are created to express ideas about sustainable practice aligned with nature.
We have an extensive archive of our Land Art sculpture images readily available to be licensed by brands aligned with our philosophy. Our art has been creatively utilised by our clients since 1995. because our ecological design message is embedded in every image.
Licensing: Sculpture images are licensed for use worldwide
Prints: Fine art prints can be purchased internationally
Copyright: Martin Hill all rights reserved