Andy Mardell’s environmentalism and art

Beautiful art created from naturally fallen trees.

Produced by Better Ancestors

Andy Mardell takes fallen timber, often very old trees like swamp kauri, and he slowly and carefully works with the wood to reveal secrets. His art is motivated by the desire to connect us with nature, to reveal complexity and timelessness through the shapes, colours and textures of the timber.

“I like to incorporate the irregularities of the timber and will often include remaining pieces of bark to add character and texture to each individual artwork.”

The essence of his work is reminding us to appreciate and embrace the natural world around us. With an increased understanding we will slow down, taking more time to think, to evaluate our choices and then to act – to be Better Ancestors.

@betterancestorsnz

Episodes From This Series

A year of change, a world of difference

9 mins / 2021

The secret life of kororā

12 mins / 2022

Blowing minds to save our oceans

5 mins / 2021

Bringing regeneration home

6 mins / 2021

Counting carbon

7 mins / 2021

How to restore a wetland

3 mins / 2020

The avian election

5 mins / 2021

Greening the concrete jungle

5 mins / 2021

Tears of the albatross

5 mins / 2021

Candid camera

5 mins / 2021

Understanding Antarctica

7 mins / 2021

Aotearoa Water Action’s fight for water security

6 mins / 2021

A better way to build

5 mins / 2021

Ancient knowledge, modern medicines

5 mins / 2021

From waste to wonder

5 mins / 2021

The cloth works

6 min / 2021

Better beauty

5 mins / 2021

Guardians of the ocean

5 mins / 2021

The wisdom of fungi

5 mins / 2021

The call of the kōkako

6 minutes / 2021

Teaching green

6 minutes / 2021

The community saying no to waste

6 minutes / 2021

Wildlife.ai’s mix of ecology and technology

6 minutes / 2021

Tama Blackburn, Waitara Taiao

6 minutes / 2021

The Eco School – Pt.1

6 minutes / 2021

The Eco School – Pt.2

6 minutes / 2021

Tiny homes

6 minutes / 2021

The Native Forest Restoration Trust

6 minutes / 2021

Bay Bush Action

6 minutes / 2021

Refill Nation

4 minutes / 2021

Backyard paradise

6 minutes / 2021

From farmland to forest

10 minutes / 2021