Lets hope they’re friendly

by Derek Henderson

Memory is elastic. It bulges, tears and repairs itself in unexpected ways. It acts as an undertow, destabilising your relationship with reality. In 1978, New Zealand reported its most significant UFO sighting to date in the small town of Kaikoura. Derek Henderson was fifteen years old at the time, and was there, sleeping on the side of the road.

Through the ensuing years, Henderson has returned to his memories of that night, examining and reflecting, attempting to draw a conclusion to a confusing event. It is this uncertainty that informs his new body of work, “Let’s Hope They’re Friendly”. Employing a more indexical approach than what was apparent in previous series, Henderson portrays possibilities and improbabilities alike in the construction of these images, seeking an outcome for an event he is unlikely ever to gain an answer for..