Exhibition Showcases Niuean Art Work

Exhibition Showcases Niuean Art Work

Auckland, New Zealand. April 7 2011 – A group of New Zealand Niueans showcased their talents and their homeland through a recent exhibition entitled The Taro and Octopus (Feki).

The exhibition was held at the Avondale Community Centre and The Edge in Aotea Square. It was the second exhibition for the Okalana Niue Arts Group which formed in 2009.

Project Manager of the Okalana Niue Arts Group Miriam Poitoa-Kauhiva says “We formed the Okalana Niue Arts Group to look at ways we could provide opportunities for our Niuean artists in the community to showcase and exhibit their work”.

Many of the group are New Zealand-born Niueans who have never been to Niue, but the passion for their homeland is evident in their work. A future goal of the group is to return to Niue to further gain inspiration for their art.

The Okalana Niue Arts Group has been supported by Niue Tourism in a bid to help encourage New Zealand born-Niueans to return to their roots and to raise awareness of the strong arts and culture scene on Niue Island.

From 23rd to 30th April Niue will be abuzz with the 2011 Niue Culture and Arts Festival, a highlight on the island’s event calendar.

Senior Tourism Development Manager for Niue Island Hayden Porter says “The Niue Culture and Arts Festival is a spectacular event and a great chance for international visitors and Niueans living abroad to come to Niue and learn about its culture. We hope to see the Okalana Niue Arts Group at the festival in years to come.”

The groups’ The Taro and Octopus exhibition featured a collaboration of contemporary and traditional Niuean art including; carving, photography, weaving, and painting.

On display were stunning carvings of traditional Niuean weapons by Sene Pihigia – Falakoa who begun to learn about carving as a young boy growing up on Niue.

More contemporary artistic styles could be seen in the works of Samantha Atasani and Cerisse Palalagi who have both developed their style through studying art and design at AUT University.

“There are many Niuean artists out there hidden in the community who are really talented and creative, it was to encourage them to bring their work out of their garages and rooms and put them out there on display so people can see them” says Poitoa-Kauhiva.

The Okalana Niue Arts Group is a not-for-profit group who fundraise to put on their exhibitions.

ENDS

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