PROVENANCE Private Collection, Auckland Acquired from Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Fundraiser, 6 May 2004

Don Binney is well known for his clean-edged modernist paintings of birds in the New Zealand landscape. In a 1977 interview with Patricia Sarr and Tom Turner, Binney described his motivation for painting: I paint and draw because I'm thoroughly committed to and involved with environmental, natural stimuli - the landscape, the wild-life . . . you must approach the landscape or the bush with reverence.

In this work Binney depicts Motukorea or Browns Island in the Hauraki Gulf, a favoured subject since 1970. From that time the artist made many drawings of Motukorea from Musick Point and other locations, aware of its status as one of the best preserved volcanoes in the Auckland region. Its geological form clearly fascinated him.

Through this painting of the free-spirited Kingfisher in flight we encounter a vibrant, and joyous expression of nature, untouched. Kōtare Motukorea II contains many of the visual elements that have come to be associated with the artist.