Sophora

In New Zealand — Sophora, part of the PEACE series, John Black reflects on harmony through the image of the kōwhai (Sophora), a national symbol of resilience and renewal. Presented as a single canvas, the work embodies cohesion and balance. The composition is structured through a restrained palette of blue and yellow, where organic forms unfold within a field of quiet stability. Layered with transparent acrylic and engraved with the word “peace” in Māori, the surface subtly refracts light, shifting the perception of the image. The work becomes a meditation on peace as something present yet delicate—held in balance, but never fixed.