Standing atop a ladder on Rangitoto Island in the particularly glorious summer of 2019/20 Phil Dadson dropped wet ink from a considerable height to land on these papers. The island surrounding him was full of pohutukawa red. The particular cove in Auckland harbour considered by many a refuge, a safe bay, is one of Phil’s favourite places on the planet. Seen from a distance the island gives off its own bluey green haze. Up close it holds an active, slightly explosive feeling. The (relatively) fresh volcanic rock is young compared to that of the ancient neighbour Motutapu. The colours in these works have spent time falling through the open airs of Rangitoto and having landed there where they are on the pages now they age, carrying something of the life force of the location they were birthed in.