Fiji artists exhibit rare displays

Text and Pictures by Dev Nadkarni
A rare art exhibition displaying the works of artists of Fiji origin from Australia, New Zealand, and of course, Fiji was held in Auckland last month as part of the Fiji Day celebrations. Titled "The Real Fiji", the exhibition presented art in a range of media-from indigenous, traditional art forms like 'kesakesa' and sculpture to painting, photography and more avant garde forms like video.

Lingikoni's ink on Masi

"The Real Fiji is a way to challenge the common perceptions of Fiji as seen in mainstream media and through the tourism industry, which although positive in terms of economics, presents an often dislocated version of contemporary Fiji realities," says Auckland-based artist, Ema Tavola, who curated the show with assistance from Leilani Kake.

Among the artists were New Zealand-based interior designer Alvin Chandra whose predominantly acrylic-based paintings speak of the landscapes surrounding his early childhood in Fiji.

Melbourne-based photographer, performance artist and teacher Torika Bolatagici displayed photographs that "explore her reconnections with Fiji".

Some of her video work was shot during her visit to Fiji during the Pacific Epistemologies conference in Suva. Also from Melbourne is Salote Tawale, a drama and photography teacher. Ida Donley traces her heritage to Kadavu and is a multimedia artist living in Auckland. Her work in the exhibition references key design elements found in 'kesakesa' or bark cloth.

Ema Tavola with one of her paintings

Photographer Vinesh Kumaran exhibited some of his work from an earlier exhibition titled "Kalapani", which traces his personal journey from New Zealand to his native Ba and then on to India. He has also exhibited his work in Suva.

Korotogo, Fiji's Craig Marlow displayed his finely detailed paintings in his signature style that has come to be identified with him. His works have found their way into residential and commercial spaces across the world.

New Zealand-based artists-Joana Monolagi, Rowena Rooney and Ema Tavola-displayed an array of paintings, sculptures and mixed media creations all with a distinct Fijian flavour.

Photographs from the "Picture This" exhibit.

Monolagi conducts workshops on traditional Fijian artforms, Rowena is an art teacher and mixed media artist and Ema's talents including sculpting, painting and textiles.

Trained at USP's Oceania Arts Centre in Suva and the University of Auckland, she works as Manukau City Council's Pacific arts coordinator. Fijian legends and mythology suffuse the paintings of Tongan-born Lingikoni Vaka'uta, who is resident artist at the Oceania Arts Centre in Suva.

Rowena Rooney... with some of the exhibits.

Some of his work at this exhibition was previously displayed in a solo show in Auckland. He is a winner of the Common wealth Arts Prize. An attraction with a difference at the show is the Fiji Women's Rights Movement's Young Women in Leadership project titled "Picture This".  Twenty-six young women in Suva were given the opportunity to capture and celebrate their world-view through photography.

Armed with some training by Suva-based photographer Adi Nacola and disposable cameras, the young women set out on their clicking spree. Many of the delightful results of that photographic mission have been displayed at the exhibition. The pictures were earlier displayed in Suva.