Derek Henderson | New Publication: The Terrible Boredom of Paradise
Photographs by Derek Henderson.
Texts by Joseph Akel, Chris Corson-Scott, and Hanna Scott.
In 2004, Derek Henderson set out with a 4×5” view camera, looking to recapture the view from the window in the back set of his parents’ car driving around the country on holidays. Over 14,000km across four months—through cars, houses, churches, street corners, and long stretches of open road—these detail rich and saturated colour images resonate with both social critique and abiding affection for the people and landscape of New Zealand.
Influential in bringing the colour photography tradition of Joel Sternfeld and Stephen Shore to New Zealand, this long out of print and sought after volume inspired a generation of photographers, and is now available once again with an expanded a recorrected suite of images. A new foreword by New York-based New Zealand writer Joseph Akel places the work in its international context, and a new essay by fellow New Zealand photographer Chris Corson-Scott provides a history of its local importance, alongside an updated version of Hanna Scott’s essay from the original 2005 edition.
Published November 2026
Softcover, 168 pages
ISBN 9781954119581
$75
Co-published by Compound Press in Aotearoa and in the USA with Daylight Books.
Melanie Roger Gallery will host the publication launch of this book on Tuesday 24 November, 5.30-7.30pm. This will coincide with an exhibition of work till 19 December. All are welcome to join, but please note that we will have limited copies of the book available and there are no reserves.
The book will be distributed in stores in early 2027.
