forms a basis for inquiry in her photographic practice. With rare and sensitive insight her work reveals everyday moments of daily life as lived by family, friends, and acquaintances that extend between Tonga and Aotearoa. Through the documenting of these relationships, her work furthers the conversation around broadening notions of what it means to be Tongan, continually shifting focus around the blurring dynamics of diasporic Tongan experience. Emily is also a core member of Malosi Pictures, a creative media group that specialises in Pacific video and stills photography. Having shot all over the world, but in particular in their homelands of the Pacific, Malosi Pictures have worked with an array of media outlets and entities and include amongst others, TVNZ, The Coconet TV, Maori Television, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
God and Tonga are my Inheritance is a body of work comprised of photographs that were taken during 2015 coronation of His Majesty King Tupou VI, the 24th Tu’i Kanokupulu, and 6th monarch of modern Tonga. As a visual record the photographs in God and Tonga are my Inheritance are a celebration of Tongan history and tradition that add to a collective memory and experience of a significant occasion. From the hundreds of photographs taken by Emily, a series of images were carefully selected and detail moments from ceremonial and informal celebrations during the historical event. The resulting series of photographs provide unique and intimate insights into the involvement of family and friends who participated in various presentations and ceremonies, and the many street parties, fashion shows and festivities that took place during the week long celebrations. Alongside these personal and informal celebratory moments, Emily was granted unprecedented access as a member of the media, which presented the opportunity to observe and document traditional ceremonies such as the Taumafa Kava (Royal Kava Ceremony) and the many traditional formalities associated with the inauguration.
Emily’s has been exhibited in a number of group and solo exhibitions including: God and Tonga are my Inheritance, Fresh Gallery, Auckland, 2015; Nuku’alofa Film Festival Digicel Square, Nuku’alofa, 2015; Mate: Pacific Rituals of Death, Gallery Smith Project Space, Melbourne, 2015; Digital Talanoa, Fresh Gallery, Auckland, 2015; Tonga i Onopooni: Tonga Contemporary, Forrester Gallery, Oamaru; Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru Ashburton Gallery, Ashburton, 2015; Pataka, Wellington, 2014; Crossing the Line, Northart, 2014; Tongan to the Bone, Otara Cube, Auckland, 2013; No’o Fakataha, Atenisi University, Nuku’alofa, 2013, Matala No’o Fakataha, Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland, 2012; Oceanic Transformations, Victoria University, Melbourne, 2010.
