Publication launch
The Terrible Boredom of Paradise: Publication Launch
- Date
- Tuesday, 24 November 2026
- Time
- 5.30pm – 7.30pm (NZT)
- About this event
Photographer Derek Henderson celebrates the launch of the new edition of The Terrible Boredom of Paradise, alongside the opening of an exhibition showcasing photographs from this landmark New Zealand photobook, first published in 2005. The project emerged from a remarkable 13,000-kilometre journey Henderson made around Aotearoa during the summer of 2003–04, capturing the country with a 4x5 field camera. His photographs document a deeply personal portrait of New Zealand, taking in provincial streets, roadside motels, marae, weatherboard houses, quiet intersections and expansive landscapes. Rather than presenting an idealised or postcard-perfect version of the country, Henderson focuses on the quieter details of everyday life. His images find beauty and emotional depth in ordinary places, exploring themes of familiarity, isolation, memory, change and the passage of time. The title, The Terrible Boredom of Paradise, reflects this intriguing contrast, capturing a New Zealand that is at once beautiful, melancholic, familiar and sometimes unexpectedly lonely. Almost 20 years after its original publication, the book returns in a second print run featuring new and previously unseen photographs, alongside newly commissioned writing by Chris Corson-Scott, Joseph Adel and Hanna Scott, who also contributed an essay to the first edition. The new edition is published by Compound Press in partnership with Daylight Books. Further event: Exhibition Kōrero with Derek Henderson & Hanna Scott Saturday, 28 November 2026, 2pm An opportunity to hear Derek Henderson and Hanna Scott discuss the exhibition and the stories behind this celebrated photographic project. Exhibition dates: 25 November – 19 December 2026 Attending: No RSVP is required for either event. Those interested in attending are encouraged to sign up to the venue's online mailing list. Limited copies of the book will be available, with no reservations accepted. The exhibition will also be available to view by appointment, where possible, over the summer break.
- Cost
- Free
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Added 10/11/2026 · Last checked 10/11/2026
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