'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.
The Motueka area in 1988 had an abundance of hop and tobacco farms. The hops go on today, but tobacco has become a no-no, having killed generations of smokers. It's still legal to grow the crop, but under very strict regulations, and if there are any tobacco farmers left they will have little to hand over to their heirs.
The crop was picturesque and the aroma inside that drying kiln was seductive. So, within a short lifetime this has become an historic picture and a once proud occupation 'Tobacco Farmer' as desirable as a kiss with hepatitis.
Interestingly, Keith Holyoake, a prime minister of New Zealand, who died five years before I did this drawing, was once a tobacco farmer in Motueka; nothing to be ashamed of then.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.
No comments:
Post a Comment