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Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park inspires Michelle because it brings together the things she loves most about the New Zealand backcountry - steep ascents, dramatic ranges, glaciers, remote huts and constantly changing alpine light. It's a very accessible, yet rugged place and sometimes daunting place which draws her in. She is drawn to the challenge of climbing into the alpine landscape and being surrounded by towering peaks, ice and rock. Every detail is inspiring, a bright red hut perched against a huge mountain face, weathered rock, alpine vegetation or sunlight filtering through a distant ridge.The landscape also offers a strong sense of adventure and scale. Michelle’s paintings aim to capture not just what Aoraki / Mount Cook looks like, but the experience of being there, the effort of getting into the mountains, the changing weather and light, and the feeling of standing in one of Aotearoa’s most spectacular wild places when you get the weather right.
With its rich history, accessible location and spectacular position, Michelle absolutely had to paint Sefton Bivouac, the oldest hut in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Perched at 1,635 metres on a ledge above the Hooker Valley, the bivvy has panoramic views towards the Sealy Range, Te Waewae Glacier and the majestic Kirikirikatata / Mt Cook Range. The Aroarokaehe Range often attracts cloud, which can obscure the views, so it took patience and several trips to capture the grandeur of this place. Despite being completely exposed to the elements, the little orange bivvy has survived remarkably well on its original site, welcoming generations of climbers.
The huts in the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park inspire Michelle, particularly the bold red and orange huts that appear as bright dots of colour against the shadowed blue grey mountains. Ball Hut in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is one of these. Rebuilt several times after avalanches and fire - intentional due to being too close to the collapsing moraine wall, the current hut is the fourth to stand in this location. Michelle was drawn to its striking red colour and dramatic setting, where icefalls and vast mountain views surround the hut. For her, these little huts add a sense of scale, adventure and respite from the harsh alpine conditions.
