Ema Tavola Goes Solo with Blood and Bone

Prominent South Auckland Fijian curator and artist, Ema Tavola, is presenting her first solo exhibition Blood and Bone tomorrow, Saturday 19 December 2009 for one night only at the Salon, House of Taonga, in Auckland. Blood and Bone presents new works that appeal to her, as she says “when I think about my ancestors, my wiring … my inextricable connection to my vanua, to Fiji, as my life force, running through my blood and bones”. The exhibition is also an homage to women who have supported her and represents her personal experiences of safety in relationships. It is also her chance to experience an exhibition from an artist’s point of view and feel the stresses and anticipation, the nerves and excitement of exposing her heart to the world. She adds, “Since leaving art school, I had prioritised most things over making art, but I maintained a drawing practise …. This new body of work is drawing heavy. My concerns with portability are also present – as someone with one foot in Aotearoa and one foot still in Fiji, I have always been concerned with the idea that my work can be easily transported, not only physically, but conceptually – it’s important to me and the work I do as a curator, that my work is accessible and relevant to the communities I draw my inspiration from.” The evening is from 6 to 10 pm on level 1, St Kevins Arcade, Karangahape Road, Auckland (B.Y.O.). For more information, visit Ema’s blog at www.ColourMeFiji.com. (Image courtesy of the artist.)