04Mar

01Apr

SAUNIGA | Saint Andrew Matautia, Pati Solomona Tyrell and Uelese Vavae

Saint Andrew Matautia, Pati Solomona Tyrell and Uelese Vavae ~ Curated by Jodi Meadows

Sauniga

4 March – 1 April  

ICL Building, 

Level 7, 

10 – 14 Lorne St, 

Central Auckland

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Sauniga

This exhibition brings together three recent graduates, Saint Andrew Matautia, Pati Solomona Tyrell and Uelese Vavae, who each centre their practice in portraiture. Using this method to both explore and express themselves and their community.

The title of the exhibition Sauniga translates to mean preparing for, or a gathering of sorts. Each artist uses portraiture to gather together, define, and connect with Samoan knowledge systems, as well as to reflect on their own identity and that of their community.

There is an inherent tension within the exhibition, created by the artists who use Samoan mythology, language and visual culture as a tool to develop contemporary imagery. Portraiture is used as a process to explore their individual cultural identity but also as mechanism to subvert and challenge the ways that we see culture in an everyday context, encompassing both island and urban experience ~ Jodi Meadows

The Full Press Release here.

Image credit: Saint Andrew Matautia, Fafau // Bound by Culture, 2016