Taim Bilong Melanesia

Taim Bilong Melanesia ‘…a rare exhibition of some 60 Melanesian contemporary visual art works from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands is described as ‘being beyond categorization and of very high quality – and well priced, with cutting edge works new to this part of the world’ by Ted Dowling Art Critic.

‘Rich, immersed in the land, with a totally different way of thinking…and frightening until you learn what the art is about’…. says Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs’ Fuimaono Norman Tuiasau, lawyer and art collector who worked in Papua New Guinea who will speak with Nina Tonga, Curator on 28th October at okaioceanikart.

Artists include Daniel Waswas of Papua New Guinea, graduate of Elam School of Art and Manukau Institute of Technology, Ellie Fa’amauri, graduate of AUT and emerging Solomon Islands artists Levi and Riaz Maninga who were in Auckland for the Pasefika Festival earlier this year and graduates of the Oceania Arts Centre from the University .of the South Pacific in Fiji.

This first ever exhibition in New Zealand of Melanesian contemporary art is showing from 15 October in 2 venues:
okaioceanikart in Karangahape Rd and Reef Gallery in Symonds St.

Midweek evening viewing at Reef Gallery 86 Symonds St Wednesday 22 October from 6 pm
and Okaioceanikart gallery’s 28th October Toktok Tuesday from 6 at 65 Karangahape Rd Langham Hotel Mall.

Taim Bilong Melanesia is sponsored by the Papua New Guinea High Commission and the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and was part of ‘Tok Talonoa: Pathways to the Future for Melanesia and NZ’ held in Wellington recently. While the discussion centred on connections between NZ and these other Pacific neighbours, it is the art that provides an enduring link with these peoples from a very diverse and as yet somewhat unknown, part of the world.

Artists
Works from leading Papua New Guinean artists: Daniel Waswas, Larry Santana, Moses Minipa, Winnie Weoa and others
Solomon Island’s based visual artists including Brian Afia plus Ellie Fa’amauri MVA AUT University Auckland
Fijian artists: Jeke Lagi , Mason Lee and others
New Caledonian artist: Yvette Bouquet.

ENDS

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