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Reflection

Overall, the planning with this project was not very thorough. I found it easier to write out the essay first and then everything that I decided on with the poster flowed after. Same went for my chosen creatives as I was able to pick two that I had already researched in my blog, and decided to add in and discuss the work of Lily Laita in light of her recent passing. These creatives are most definitely who I would love to mentor me solely due to the thought processes and conceptual thinkings behind their designs and artistic expressions.

Furthermore, I wish I had been able to put in more effort with the collage but decided on a variety collage in the end as I wanted to display the photos in full. While I had tried to cut out the images and arrange them, they did not flow as well as they did in a variety collage. Overall, I really enjoyed taking photos of my own family as this assignment helped me to think more intimately with values and design elements I wanted to utilise more with in the future that would allow me to be more thoughtful with my creative process.

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Inia Ite

Inia Ite is the sole parent of Aniva, Aria, Anton, and I. One of the family's favourite dishes that she cooks is her infamous curry.

Inia, alike many other pacific island mothers, is interested in the art of weaving. The hands in the picture is my aunty Tiana Epati. Inia and Tiana are often seen weaving in the backyard where there lies a huge flax bush.

Inia holding a picture frame of her parents - in 2017, her father on the left had passed away. Inia often talks about going back to Samoa and living there in order to take care of her mother. This is a responsibility that a lot of Samoans are willing to take on as the relationships between us and our parents are significant of devotion and service.

Inia and the Ie Toga - this was gifted to her in Samoa when she received her Matai title. It is an object that is often showcased and displayed in faasamoa settings. Traditionally, gifts her often used as a currency in Samoa. The gifting and exchanging of such items was considered an honour and a sign of high status.

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Aniva Ite

Aniva is the youngest of the family. While she did not grow up surrounded by the culture as much as the older kids were, she still enjoys expressing her identity through Art - drawing & painting

Aniva enjoys music and watching movies in her down time.

As a teenage girl, she has become a lot more interested in makeup and hair. It symbolises a formative period in a girl's life in which awareness of self-image becomes more apparent. When asked about whether or not she feels like she feels incapable when it comes to learning more about the Samoan culture, she replies that it is something she will always be keen to learn more of

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Aria Toilolo-Ite

Guitar playing was always something aria grew up with and picked up on as early as year 7. She associates the guitar as an instrument that is played amongst the family, as well as a lot of other Pacific Islanders during social events

One of Aria's prized possessions is her jewlery bowl in the shape of a Tanoa. Much of her earrings were from the markets in Apia, Samoa where the family used to go to every year before Covid-19 happened.

Aria graduated with a Bachelors in Law in 2023. She had been studying for 5 strenuous years and believes it to be one of her greatest achievements

Aria's Tusi Pa'ia was given to her for coming first in her Class at church. It is something that is gifted to kids at EFKS and is a common item owned by a lot of Samoan Christians

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Winona Tekene

An image of her mother. Winona speaks very fondly about her mum and how much of an inspiration she was. She says "she empowered me to learn more about my culture and how much family is important."

She said this about her mother and her relationship with the Tanoa: "The Tanoa was owned by my late mother. She was very passionate about the Aganu’u (Samoan culture). She was apart of an organisation called Sa’asia where she would go around to Samoan pre-schools and encourage and teach Fa’asamoa. This Tanoa I hold very dear to my heart because it reminds me of how much effort she put into her work and inspires me to do the same."

The Nifo Ula was also a significant object as she had bought it to wear for her church's white Sunday performance. Winona is very active in the church as was her mother. Winona is to receive a tulafale (chief title) in Samoa this year and she wanted to hold onto the necklace for when the day comes.

To Winona, the puletasi represents a teine Samoa and her identity. Respect and pride are just a few of the values she associates with it. Winona is also often a participant in serving her family during traditional faasamoan practices and so having a puletasi on hand with her is always helpful

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An aspect that I am looking to explore in my project is the connection between art with self concept. While these creatives each focus on slightly different societal issues - from feminism, racism, cultural erasure, and civil rights, I find that they all have the common objective of bringing light to aspects of human behaviour that while seemingly negative, are fundamental in understanding who we are as individuals. I would like to combine my interest of self concept through a creative lense.

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Visual Map of creative interests & practice

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Week 2 SDL

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Pohewa Pāhewa: a Māori design kaupapa

| Desna Whaanga-Schollum

Desna is actively involved in Māori identity design, discourse and stakeholder engagement in Aotearoa, via design consultancy, research, exhibitions, wānanga, speaking engagements and governance roles.

| Tyrone Ohia

He was born in Tauranga, raised in Whanganui, and is founder and creative director of Extended Whānau – an award winning design studio based in Tāmaki Makaurau.

| Graham Tipene

Graham is a Tā Moko artist who has been involved as a consultant and key artist on civic and Council-led projects throughout Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. His public work brings Māori kaupapa into the built environment of the city, with major projects including the Waterview tunnel, Victoria Park, Auckland Library, and Tirohanga Whānui Bridge in Albany.

| Johnson Witehira

Johnson Witehira is an artist, designer and academic of Tamahaki and Ngāi Tū-te-auru descent. He is the co-founder of both Indigenous Design and Innovation Aotearoa (IDIA) and Waahi Wairua.

| Zoe Black

Zoe Black (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Pākehā) is the deputy director of Objectspace in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. She has been working in galleries for the past eight years. Her curatorial practice has focused on community development and advocating for critically under-represented craft and object art forms. 

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Week 2 Tutorial

Using examples your own work, create a visual map of your range of interests and practice.

Include:

specific techniques and crafts

key themes, ideas and conversations

specialist subject knowledge

environmental, social, cultural, sub-cultural, political contexts and influences

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Week 2 SDL

a)

• For next week, begin collecting visual examples of other creatives – bring at least ten to class • Find out the names of the designers behind three pieces of design you have found in the public arena. • Make a blog entry for this.

Luis Marden

Luis Marden was an American photographer, explorer, writer, filmmaker, diver, navigator, and linguist who worked for National Geographic Magazine. 

IG: @/laseally_

Based in Auckland, Aotearoa - NZ Photographer + Film Production/AD

IG: @/malae.co:

Illustrator and photographer

Paul Hamer

Wellington Based Photographer

Raymond Sagapolutele

Raymond Sagapolutele is an Aotearoa-born Sāmoan artist. Founding member of the ManaRewa art collective based at Nathan Homestead in Manurewa and alongside senior members helps to tutor and support the local arts community.

Luca Walton

"Born in Lautoka, Fiji, to a Tongan mother and Kiwi expat father, Luca’s paintings are a reflection of his heritage, cross-cultural identity and incredible childhood surroundings - the beautifully vibrant Kingdom of Tonga."

Tai Nimo

Tai is an Auckland based, multi-disciplinary artist currently building on her signature look that combines digital creation with her background in traditional illustration.

Peter Winq

Peter Seeto Wing is a queer multidisciplinary maker that hails for the y-shaped archipelago of Vanuatu.

Savage Klub

The SaVĀge K'lub is a multidisciplinary vehicle built to explore ideas of hospitality and sovereignty. Collaboration of multiple pacific island artists.

Edith Amituanai

Edith Amituanai MNZM is a New Zealand photographic artist. In 2007, she was the inaugural recipient of the Marti Friedlander Photographic Award. 

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