Diasporadic679

‘Na Veiqia Vou’ (2017) collaborators: Koleta Tobeyaweni, Bernadette Kaulotu Suiqa, Ta’Arei Weeks, Mere Rosi Navuda, Mereula Buliruarua.

Elizabeth Tanya Sidal, also of VOU Dance Fiji, could not continue due to university timetable conflict. 

Part of The Veiqia Project’s Fiji tour. The exhibition opened at the Fiji Museum on International Women’s Day, 8 March.

When Can I See You Again? | Fresh Gallery Ōtara

16 Feb – 25 March 2017

Molly Rangiwai-McHale, Luisa Tora, Ana Te Whaiti, Jamie Berry,Sangeeta Singh, Tasi Su’a. Exhibiting artist, Kerrie Van Heerden was in England at the time.

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When Can I See You Again? offers a public invitation into a private, contemplative space. This multimedia, multicultural, multi-regional exhibition of emerging artists explores female sexualities, desire, power, and safe spaces.

The collectively curated gathering attempts to build “a community of resistance” (bell hooks). A “central location for the production of a counter-hegemonic discourse that is not just found in words but in habits of being and the way one lives”.

Women’s voices and bodies are privileged in new works created by Ana Te Whaiti, Jamie Berry, Kerrie Van Heerden, Luisa Tora, Molly Rangiwai-McHale, Sangeeta Singh, and Tasi Su’a.

Opening Night event on Thursday 16 February at 6pm, with a free bus to and from Fresh Gallery Ōtara, picking-up outside Family Bar on Karangahape Road.

A Weaving Circle on Saturday 18 March at 3 – 5pm offers an opportunity to speak with the artists, to talk about our shared herstory, and to make some bold projections about what form a utopian queer female future might take.

Knot Even Workshop, Saturday 25 Feb, 10am-1pm: Learn basic rope knotting and body adornment/jewellery techniques with exhibiting artists.

Collaborators Extraordinaire in the Fiji Museum Storeroom.

Luisa Tora, Mereula Buliruarua, and Mere Rosi Navuda, Bernadette Kaulotu Suiqa, Koleta Tobeyaweni, Ta’Arei Weeks, and Elizabeth Tanya Sidal of VOU Dance Fiji collaborated on a performance titled ‘Na Veiqia Vou (2017)’. This is part of The Veiqia Project's home tour to Fiji in 2017. The exhibition opened at the Fiji Museum on International Women's Day, 8 March.

Vinaka vakalevu, FAF SWAG for inviting me into your work.

MAKE SPACE: The Visibility Project - is a public realm project that partners emerging visual artist with performance artist to create unique multi media and digital art works for the CBD during the Auckland PRIDE festival. This project aims to generate visibility for the Pasifika LGBTQ community through digital story telling.

Vinaka vakalevu, Pati Solomona Tyrell for inviting me into your work.

“Fāgogo in Samoan refers to fables that are told in a shared context. The receiver of a Fāgogo is vested with an expectation to share the story, making it their own and then passing it on. PATI SOLOMONA TYRELL’s work unpacks the colonial gaze placed on queer brown bodies in an attempt to return gender and sexually diverse identities back to their oracle status.

In Pati Solomona Tyrell’s practice, fāgogo is situated as a restorative practice, shared with other artists and collaborators from the Pasifika LGBTQI space in Aotearoa.  In the film that gives this exhibition its title, the research, writing, choreography, styling and garment construction is all collaborative and honours the tradition of fāgogo by sharing the responsibility of telling this story and allowing artists to respond to their own cultural heritage, unpacking the colonial gaze placed on queer brown bodies to return gender and sexually diverse identities back to their oracle status.”

Navigate // Tautai

30th anniversary exhibition.

Holding part of Leilani Kake’s installation.

#TheVeiqiaProject opening night singing a vucu written by Joana Monolagi.Official project photographer: Saengeeta Singh.

Opening night f. Donita Hulme, Dulcie Stewart, Margaret Aull, Luisa Tora, Joana Monolagi.

Photographer: Leafa Wilson.

Closing day - with the extended project family. 

Back row: Ema Tavola (curator), Margaret Aull (artist), Luisa Tora (artist), Molly Rangiwai-McHale, Rita Vunidilo

Front row: Adi Asenaca Uluiviti, Joana Monolagi (artist), Seniloli Tora, Tarisi Sorovi-Vunidilo (curator)

‘Legal Alien’ series (2016) at Navigate // Tautai’s 30th anniversary exhibition.

A collaboration between Molly Rangiwai-McHale and me. The titles (left to right):

1. ‘U Can’t Touch This (2016)’

2. ‘Microaggressions (2016)’

3. ‘Other Pacific Islander (2016)’