MAUForum To Celebrate Arts, Ideas and Activism

Media Release MAU Forum
Thursday 5 February 2009

MAUForum To Celebrate Arts, Ideas and Activism

The fourth annual MAUForum curated and hosted by Lemi Ponifasio and his MAU Company will take place from February 27 to March 21 at Corbans Estate, Henderson in Waitakere City, Auckland.
Produced over 23 days each March, the MAUForum presents inspirational and provocative artists, thinkers, writers, activists, heads of government and communities from around the world and across the Pacific region.

Events include a presentation by the Samoa Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese for the Pacific Thought Symposium, the world-renowned director Peter Sellars' address at The Pig Dinner, as well as the New Zealand premiere of Lemi Ponifasio's Tempest: Without a Body at the ASB Theatre Aotea Centre scheduled for opening night of this year's Auckland Festival.

"We initiated the MAUForum as a gathering of artists within the ordinary life of the community to share ideas and seek new pathways for action. It's a stimulus package for everyone," says Lemi Ponifasio.

The performance program includes avant-garde musician/composer Dean Roberts, the Laughing Samoans, New Zealand's leading funk band Rhombus, the world premiere of choreographer Alexa Wilson's new work Toxic White Elephant Shock, the New Zealand premiere of the award winning playwright Dianna Fuemana's Falemalama, the hurricane-like humour of Kila Kokonut Krew and the open air performance TUTAU: Standing In Time by MAU and the community, staged by Lemi Ponifasio.

Other major events include presentations by new media artist couple Burnett-Rose, the launch of the Global Children Forum, an international MAUForum project where children meet and exchange visions and plans for the world, a special gathering of activists and artists under the project Hands UP!, which is an evening of performances and talks asking the question – are activists visionaries, freedom lovers or terrorists? There will be an art exhibition featuring leading artists Fatu Feu'u, Filipe Tohi and John Ioane and the I AM: Mama Project led by artist Delicia Sampero in collaboration with Pacific Mamas and refugee Mamas from the Middle East and Africa.

"The Perception of Beauty and Truth" is the reflection for this upcoming MAUForum. All of the events are accompanied with artist conversations, panellists, food, ceremonies and the daily MAU School. Other workshops will be held in collaboration with the Auckland Festival by the Japanese theatre company Ishinha and the music ensemble Sing Sing.

Current information may be obtained from the MAUForum website: www.mau.co.nz which will be updated daily.

ENDS

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