Pacific artists for Matariki exhibition
Media Release
10 June 2010
HAERE MAI I OKAI - Pacific artists for Matariki exhibition
Okaioceanikart - the only Pan Pacific art gallery in the world - celebrates Matariki with an exciting and diverse exhibition from five artists new to its exhibition space.
They will be welcomed by ‘grand elder’ of Pacific artists, Samoan Fatu Feu’u who will show several new canvases. He will be joined by three New Zealand- based artists: new generation Samoan Nestor Opetaia paints music-inspired pastel abstracts; well known Tongan-German artist Dagmar Dyck is back painting after five years of being a mother and Maori-Pakeha artist Reuben Friend has very contemporary works that are strong statements of his mixed identity.
Two Pacific-based artists will be featured in the exhibition. Leua Latai Leonard trained at the prestigious School of Art Institute of Chicago in the United States and presents intriguing self-portrait photographs. She currently teaches at the National University of Samoa and is leading an Art Therapy Project for Schools affected by the 2009 Tsunami.
Mason Lee from the Oceania Cultural Centre at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, is one of the rising talents from Fiji, has an extensive style and has exhibited in London.
Helping to connect Aucklanders with these talented artists is generous corporate sponsorship from Air Pacific and Reef Group and the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission all important players in the Pacific region.
Aends