A Potent Way of Talking: Colin McCahon and the Urewera triptych
Hamish Coney
Type: Art monograph
Edited by Hamish Coney, with essays by Laurence Simmons and Linda Tyler
Design: Phillip Kelly Studio
Format: Case-bound hardcover with slipcase
Size: Portrait 285 x 210 mm
Pages: 192 pages
Binding: Section-sewn case binding with foiled and debossed spine, premium head and tail bands, cloth-covered boards and matching slipcase
Paper: Text NEO Satin, with Colorplan Ebony endpapers
Printing: B2 Indigo CMYK
Production: New Zealand
Edited by Hamish Coney and essays by Laurence Simmons and Linda Tyler, A Potent Way of Talking: Colin McCahon and the Urewera triptych is a powerful new account of Colin McCahon’s landmark engagement with Te Urewera, Tūhoe history, and the spiritual legacy of Rua Kēnana and Te Kooti. Tracing the journey from McCahon’s first sketches to his final mural, this richly illustrated book combines deep research with a compelling visual narrative.
Designed by Phillip Kelly Studio, the 192-page monograph was conceived as a finely crafted collector's edition. The artwork was reproduced on Text NEO Satin using B2 Indigo printing to preserve the subtle tonal range and colour of McCahon's paintings, while deep black Colorplan Ebony endpapers create a striking contrast as the book is opened.
The tactile experience of the book was equally important. Both the case and slipcase are covered in premium Cialux book cloth, complemented by a foiled and debossed spine, premium head and tail bands, and precision section-sewn case binding completed by Book Binding Press. Every material and finishing detail was carefully considered to produce a publication that is as beautifully made as it is informative.
The exceptional quality of the production was recognised with a Gold Medal for Print Finishing at the 2026 Pride in Print Awards. Produced in a limited edition of just 250 copies, the first edition has since sold out and is now under consideration for a second printing.