Tangata o le Moana is the new 10-year exhibition on Pacific peoples in Aotearoa at Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington.
This impressive commissioned sculpture is by Tongan Tufunga Lalava, Filipe Tohi.
On a recent visit, I was privileged to join a curator’s floortalk by Senior Curator, Sean Mallon, and also a tour of the store room, which was fantastic and inspirational.
Another highlight of this trip was meeting the amazing Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, respected Maori academic and authority on Maori tattoo and art histories. She is the Chair of Te Waka Toi, the Maori Arts Board. Also speaking with Oscar Kightley, the first and only Pacific Island Council member of Creative New Zealand / Arts Council of New Zealand, and 2006 Arts Laureate.
Colour Me Fiji // Ema Tavola 