Five contemporary artists from Fiji came together for an exhibition in response to Fiji Day, 10 October. Well aware of the turbulent events happening at home, the exhibition named Fiji Times is a personal response to current issues.
The Fiji Times exhibition, which featured Margaret Aull, Filani Macassey, Sangeeta Singh, Luisa Tora and Torika Bolotagici Vetuna ran from 10 to 14 October at The Salon on Karangahape Road in Auckland.
Inspired to make commentary on the current situation in Fiji, the five women artists have developed experimental works in canvas, paper, tapa and cloth that tackle issues of leadership, faith and religion, censorship and militarism, propaganda, love, land and diaspora.
Ema Tavola curated the show and admitted the work is politically inspired. “The artists are able to take advantage of being on the outside, commentating from afar,” she said.
Women artists from Fiji have been asserting their presence in contemporary Pacific art circles, particularly since the Vasu: Pacific Women of Power exhibition, held in Suva in September 2008.
Based between Melbourne, Waikato and the Auckland region, the five artists have recently started to work more closely together.
“It's exciting to have a strong network of Fiji women artists living relatively close by, particularly Luisa and Sangeeta, who have recently relocated to South Auckland from Suva,” says Ema.
The artists who displayed their work were Margaret Aull, Filani Macassey, Sangeeta Singh, Luisa Tora, Torika Bolotagici Vetuna.