Is there a Pasifika perspective in photography? How does a Pasifika perspective challenge conventional visual representations of Aotearoa? What stories are emerging from a Pasifika perspective?
Pasifika refers to the people, cultures, and language of Pacific groups – including Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and other smaller Pacific nations – who are now living in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Previously, New Zealand governed most of these Pacific nations.
VII Academy has partnered with Creative New Zealand to provide a program for Pasifika creatives from Aotearoa. In the first workshop in the program, which was recently completed, VII photographer Christopher Morris, supported by Pacific photographer Raymond Sagapolutele, worked with nine emerging storytellers to develop new skills and new stories.
To see and discuss the Pasifika perspective, this event will showcase work from emerging storytellers (including Frank Falaniko Talo, Jasmine Tuia, and Siniva Williams) who recently participated in this VII Academy workshop.