Understory
Created by Paris Kirby
“Understory” is an exploration of identity, ancestry, symbolism, and time.
Built through layers of spray, line, and text, the surface is gradually revealed and obscured, echoing the way memory is formed - accumulated, weathered, and partially lost.
Like the forest floor, Understory holds the traces of what has come before: fallen leaves, quiet growth, and stories carried beneath the surface.
Set within a nocturnal landscape of silver foliage and moonlight, the kiwi moves through darkness guided by touch, instinct, and inherited memory.
Above, the stars remain - a shared sky once seen by those who came before us - while below, life persists in shadow.
The work reflects fragility and endurance, and the quiet continuity that survives through care, attention, and time.
Meet Paris Kirby
Paris Kirby is an artist, designer, and placemaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. A leader in the arts and cultural industry, she is passionate about integrating art into public spaces and empowering communities. Her work is inspired by local environments and explores themes of connection, place, and storytelling.
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