Cerisse Palalagi: Motunei
19 June – 12 September 2010 in the Deane Gallery
Art historian Nicholas Thomas writes in the catalogue notes for the exhibition Savage Island Hiapo (1998) that while Niuean hiapo (bark cloth) painting shares stylistic features with other painted or printed forms of tapa from the Pacific, it is distinctive in its use of freehand painting, the diversity of the motifs, and the irregularity of the patterning – painterly practices which Auckland based artist Cerisse Palalagi (Niuean, Maori), like John Pule before her, refers to as the cultural foundation for her art practice.

Characterised by an impressive mastery of a wide array of print and mark making processes such as silk screening, photographic emulsions, hand painting and drawing, embroidery and photography, Palalagi’s art merges hiapo practices with contemporary printing and portraiture.

Her works respond to her experience of current social trends and developments in Pacific cultures and community. Palalagi explains, “The patterns I use are a reflection of my identity. I like the juxtaposition of cultural symbols and people combined in my portraits. They are usually of people in my family, including myself. This is my way of reviving the culture, and showing people that our culture and language is not dead.”

Motunai, a Niuean word referring to ‘people of the land’, can also be translated as Motu nei meaning ‘this land or island’ in Maori language. However Motunei is more than just a reference to Palalagi’s Niuean and Maori heritage. Recognising the historical significance of landscape in Pacific cultures, Motunei acknowledges Pacific communities who now look beyond their home shores seeking a sense of belonging within a global community. Referring to the advent of fibre-optic telecommunications as a recent catalyst for this shift in social and cultural behaviours, Palalagi explores the influence of mainstream media and online cultures of communication on Pacific youth. Of particular interest to Palalagi is the influences of pop culture and the age of ‘digital devices’ on Pacific youth.

Reuben Friend

Curator Maori and Pacific Art

Biography
Cerisse Palalagi is of Niuean and Maori (Ngati Pikiao) descent. She was born in 1977 and lives in Auckland. She works predominantly in the mediums of printing, painting and drawing and more recently photography. Palalagi graduated from Auckland University’s Elam School of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2000, and is currently studying towards a Masters of Visual Arts and Design at Auckland University of Technology. Palalagi has recently completing a lithography print residency (2010) at the Auckland Print Studio, Unitec New Zealand, Auckland, and in 2008 attended the Tenth annual Pacific Arts Festival, Pago Pago, America Samoa.

Palalagi is an active member of Toi Whakataa Press, the Maori Print Collective and exhibits regularly in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad. Recent exhibitions include Native Coconut (2010), Fresh Gallery Otara, Auckland, Taa Moemoea (2009), Solander Gallery, Wellington, Strengthening Sennit (2008), St Paul St Gallery, Auckland, Red Thread (2008), Okaioceanikart Gallery, Auckland, Ranea (2008), Fresh Gallery Otara, Auckland, Pocahontas meets Hello Kitty (2007), Richard F Brush Art Gallery, St Lawrence University, New York, and Squeak Toy Animals (2006), Wisconsin, USA.

Creative New Zealand in association with Pasifika Festival presents ARTSpeak Pasifika – a two-day national fono for the Pacific arts industry.

Open to Pacific artists working in visual arts, performing arts, film and television, music, literature and heritage arts, the fono is an opportunity to share ideas and participate in panel discussions designed to provide inspiration and practical advice on making a successful career in the arts.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Anton Carter anton.carter@creativenz.co.nz or Makerita Urale pacific.arts.2010@gmail.com

Cost: a flat rate of $30 includes both days as well as lunch and morning and afternoon teas. A limited number of travel subsidies are available to assist participants from outside the Auckland region to attend.

SCAPE 2010 Christchurch Biennial of art in public space is providing scholarships for two emerging writers, interested in contemporary art writing to participate in a one day writing workshop alongside other established, early career contemporary art writers. The workshop will provide an opportunity for each participant to develop his/her writing practice, and gain further insight into the field of contemporary art writing.

The workshop will be facilitated by Vanessa Joan Mueller, Director of Düsseldorf Kunstverein and well-known curator of many contemporary art events and exhibitions, on Thursday 23 September 2010.  The workshop will be an intensive day long event and only serious applicants should apply.  Scholarship recipients will be expected to attend all events associated with the opening weekend of SCAPE, 24-26 September.  Scholarships will cover workshop related costs and the cost of travel and accommodation where recipients live outside ofChristchurch.  Scholarships are available to New Zealandresidents only.<!–[endif]–>

Application Process
Writers interested in applying are asked to submit two published (relevant) pieces of writing, of no more than 2,000 words, together with a CV and covering letter of no more than 100 words, outlining what they hope to gain from participating in the workshop.

Please note: as we are not able to return any material we recommend originals are not included.

Closing date: 5pm 9 July 2010 Late applications will not be accepted. Successful applicants will be notified by email no later than 23 July.

Letters of application, with attached documents, should be sent to:
Caraline Douglas, Critical Writing Workshop Co-ordinator
SCAPE 2010 Christchurch Biennial
C/- Art & Industry Biennial Trust
PO Box 763 , Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
or email to caraline@scapebiennial.org.nz

SCAPE 2010 is the 6th biennial organised by the Art & Industry Biennial Trust, New Zealand’s premier biennial for art in public space.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: ART & INDUSTRY BIENNIAL TRUST, PO BOX 763 | CHRISTCHURCH 8140 | NEW ZEALAND | +64 (03) 365 7990 |info@scapebiennial.org.nz | www.scapebiennial.org.nz

PRESENTED BY:

WITH SUPPORT FROM:
MAJOR FUNDERS: Perry Foundation, Lion Foundation. MAJOR SPONSORS: Adrienne, Lady Stewart, Christchurch City Council, Creative New Zealand – The Arts Council of New Zealand. SPONSORS: Anderson Lloyd Lawyers, Asia NZ, Australia Council for the Arts, Beca, Blueprint, Boffa Miskell, Canterbury Community Trust, Chambers PR, Chartwell Trust, Ernst & Young, Fletcher Construction, Goethe Instuit, Grant Thornton, Heritage Management Services, New Zealand Charitable Foundation, Shannon’s Way, SIFT, Solid Energy, Wrightmann Collection. SUPPORT SPONSORS: Artspace, Sydney; Arts Centre of Christchurch, Vbase, Website Results.

Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust: Part time position – Beginning immediately

Tautai is seeking an enthusiastic well organised energetic person to organise and run our secondary school workshop program for pacific heritage students.

Key Skills: Experience in planning and implementing events. Ability to engage with and motivate a range of people. Previous experience with funding applications an advantage. Copy of job description contact manager@tautai.org Closing date: 13 June 2010

Courtney Meredith Samoan/Cook Island and Irish ancestry.  An English Major from the University of Auckland with a successful background in public speaking, composition and performance.  In 2008 she won the Going West Poetry Slam, and the Montana Poetry Slam.

Dagmar Dyck Tongan/German descent. She graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts in 1996, and has been exhibiting since 1993. She is a painter and a printmaker.

Matthew Salapu Faiumu Samoan; producer, pianist, songwriter and rapper. Aka ‘Anonymouz’ he is a classically trained musician and has been widely involved in the NZ music industry.

MICHAEL ESTER’S TRACK

MATT’S TRACK

FLORENCE’S TRACK

SETU’S TRACK

BENNY’S TRACK

Three outstanding Pacific Artists that tutored the workshops were:

Victor Rodger Samoan/Scottish playwright; he is the first Pacific writer in residence at the University of Canterbury. The themes of race relations and identity inspire most of his work. Since 2000 he has been a storyliner and now dialogue writer for ‘Shortland Street’; his “bread and butter” job.

Janet Lilo Niuean/Samoan/Maori; a graduate from AUT’s Master of Art and Design course. This young innovative video/digital artist has just returned from a residency in Sapporo Japan.

Matthew Salapu Faimu Samoan; producer, pianist, songwriter and rapper. Aka ‘Anonymouz’ he is a classically trained musician and has been widely involved in the NZ music industry.