Pacific Photographer is Top Four Finalist for New Zealand Contemporary Arts Prize

Rising Pasifika star, Edith Amituanai, was recently one of four finalists in New Zealand’s richest and most prestigious contemporary arts award: The Walters Prize 2008. The nomination was for Déjeuner (2007), an exhibition of photography based on her visit to France and Italy where she photographed Samoan rugby players in their homes. The exhibition represents her interest in what she calls the “third wave” of migration by Samoans who go out into the world to seek new opportunities – like their parents did when they migrated to New Zealand. Speaking about the exhibition when it was first launched, Edith said: “The places were smaller especially in Italy and exactly like mine; they had recreated the home away from home. I was quite upset with that – I thought their homes would look more French or Italian!” Amituanai is a graduate of Unitec (Bachelor of Design, major in Photography) in Auckland. For the past year, she has been the inaugural recipient of the Marti Friedlander Photography Award. Her work is held at Te Papa and Auckland Art Gallery collections. The Walters Prize 2008 was eventually awarded to Peter Robinson of the Elam School of Fine Arts.