Amidst the recent doom and gloom about Fiji, a unique collection of photography, painting, installation and short film is set to start Auckland’s 2009 arts calendar with a spark. Built around a popular phrase from Fiji’s national anthem, the exhibition is an artistic exploration of Fiji by five emerging women artists through four weighty themes: sexuality, militarism, identity and spirituality. Variously born and raised in Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, the artists are united by their Fiji heritage, their skilful artwork, and their agenda for social change. Among them, Margaret Aull was awarded the Waikato Museum ArtsPost Award for Outstanding Academic Record in 2006. Torika Bolatagici’s photographic and video work has been exhibited locally and overseas, including New York, San Francisco and Auckland. Her PhD has a research focus on Fijian security workers in Iraq. Filani Macassey has curated exhibitions and organised workshops for Art Kaipara including lino prints, wood sculpture and visual arts. Sangeeta Singh and Luisa Tora are members of the Fiji-based Niu Waves Writers’ Collective. Their work (in poetry, painting, and film) challenges social constructs such as sexuality, race and gender. The exhibition runs from 22 Jan to 14 Feb, 2009. It is curated by another emerging Fiji woman artist, Ema Tavola of Fresh Gallery Otara. For an interview with Luisa Tora about the exhibition, click on the title, “A question of Fijian identity” at http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/intheloop/
“4 Women” by Sangeeta Singh. Photo by Ema Tavola courtesy of Fresh Gallery Otara.
