Art, Activism & Awakenings: Gil Hanly’s Photos of 1960s–80s Aotearoa

This new documentary short, featuring interviews with family and art world figures, reflects on the extraordinary life and work of photographer Gil Hanly. Spanning a pivotal era from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, the video explores how Hanly captured a nation shedding its post-war isolation and forging into the modern world. From her life in Mount Eden’s early art scene alongside her husband Pat Hanly, to the frontlines of the 1981 Springbok Tour protests and the 1985 Rainbow Warrior bombing, her photographs document both the beauty and the deep social friction of this pivotal time in Aotearoa’s history. Contributors discuss her unassuming stance that she was "just recording things"—a gentle camouflage that allowed her to navigate the world freely and build an irreplaceable visual archive of New Zealand's creative and activist history. View catalogue: https://catalogue.charlesninow.com/gi... ⏱️ Key Moments in the Video: 0:00 – 📷 Introduction: Gil Hanly & Her Archive 0:30 – 🎨 London, Art School & Returning to Auckland 1:15 – 🏡 Mount Eden’s Vibrant 1960s Art Scene 2:20 – 🖼️ Life with Pat Hanly & Documenting Artists in Their Studios 3:10 – ✊ The Frontlines: Springbok Tour Protests & Activism 4:05 – 🕊️ The Rainbow Warrior Bombing & Documenting History 5:00 – ✨ "Just Recording Things": Gil's Unique Power & Legacy