This project involves the retelling of a historic New Zealand story using a system of multiple narrations. The research is presented in three parts:1. The practical component, Last Man Hanging: a book of pictures.2. A contextualising exegesis.3. 31 months (a documentation of my visual journey). The major component of this research is the creative text, Last Man Hanging. This is a book of pictures and type that retells the story of the trial and death of Walter James Bolton; the last man hanged in New Zealand. Its narrative discourse involves the orchestration of relationships through a compendium of characters, architecture, artifacts, environments and typography. The book integrates narrative voices that may be grouped into two often-conflicting positions; the story as it appeared in newspapers at the time, and the writer's personal consideration of an alternative series of events and emphases. Though an argument of tellings the book suggests a different verdict to that established by the courts in 1956.Finally, the exegesis contextualises both works. It considers specific theoretical issues pertaining to Last Man Hanging's narrative voice and imagery.

This project involves the retelling of a historic New Zealand story using a system of multiple narrations. The research is presented in three parts:1. The practical component, Last Man Hanging: a book of pictures.2. A contextualising exegesis.3. 31 months (a documentation of my visual journey). The major component of this research is the creative text, Last Man Hanging. This is a book of pictures and type that retells the story of the trial and death of Walter James Bolton; the last man hanged in New Zealand. Its narrative discourse involves the orchestration of relationships through a compendium of characters, architecture, artifacts, environments and typography. The book integrates narrative voices that may be grouped into two often-conflicting positions; the story as it appeared in newspapers at the time, and the writer's personal consideration of an alternative series of events and emphases. Though an argument of tellings the book suggests a different verdict to that established by the courts in 1956.Finally, the exegesis contextualises both works. It considers specific theoretical issues pertaining to Last Man Hanging's narrative voice and imagery.