Lana Lopesi, Tautai Projects Manager

We are thrilled to announce that celebrated author, critic, independent curator and proud mother Lana Lopesi has joined the Tautai team as our new Projects Manager.

She is well respected for her innovative thinking, service for the Pacific arts sector and inspiring others with big ideas.

Lana joins Tautai as Projects Manager from The Pantograph Punch where she served as the Editor-in-Chief (2017–2019). Previously Lana was Founding Editor of #500words (2012–2017) and Editor of Design Assembly (2018). Lana is also the author of False Divides (2018) and her writing has featured in many publications in print and online as well as in numerous artist and exhibition catalogues.

Lana has delivered a number of significant exhibitions as an independent curator. This includes lei-pā (2017) at ST PAUL St Gallery, Auckland; The Commute (2018) at the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane; Layover (2019) at Artspace Aotearoa, Auckland; and Transits and Returns (upcoming 2019), Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver.

Lana is currently completing her Doctorate in Philosophy at Auckland University of Technology focused on the significance of the online environment for this current generation of Pacific people and by extension the art that they’re making. There she is also a researcher for the Vā Moana / Pacific Spaces research cluster – an international research platform engaging Pacific and Western thought to investigate Vā Moana or Pacific Spaces.

Lana will lead on Tautai’s annual programme of events and activities both locally and internationally.