Their Seeds Are Winged And Borne In Pairs w/ Zina Swanson: 26th September, 2025

Zina Swanson is a Ōtautahi Christchurch-based artist working amongst an artistic practice of painting, drawing, sculpture and instalation. Her practice delves into the exploration of the both fluctuating and porous relationship between humans and the natural world—often looking into these uncanny plant-related lores that occupy a slight nod to a darker view of humanity's relationship with the natural world.

Her current exhibition on at Sumer, Their Seeds Are Winged and Borne in Pairs continues and builds on Swanson's exploration of the natural world, navigating its rhythms and textures. Within this exhibition Swanson looks to the Sycamore plant, specifically their seeds. Producing an inquisitive new body of work that includes series of paintings, both acrylic on canvas and watercolour on paper, as well as human scale sculptures in clay and painted steel. 

Inviting us to look a bit closer at the natural world around us, and ponder in its porous boundaries between humans.

Maya had a kōrero with Zina Swanson about the show and overall practice.