'Au Mei Moana Exhibition 2010

Tapu mo e ‘Afio e ‘Otua Mafimafí ‘i hotau lotolotongá,

Tapu mo Nōpele Vaea mo e kau Hou’eiki Nōpele ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afió,

Tapu mo e ‘Eiki Minisitā Akó mo e Hou’eiki Minisitā e Kalauní,

Fakatapu atu heni ki he Sekelitali Lahi ‘o e Siasi ‘o Tonga, Faifekau Tu’ipulotu Katoanga mo Ha’a Lotu,

Kae fakamolemole kau fakamalumalu atu pe mu’a he tala fakatapu kuo aofaki ‘e he ‘Eiki Minisitā Akó, kae ‘atā kiate au ke fakamonū hoku koloa kuo tō mei he Potungāue Akó.

‘Oku tau tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua Mafimafí, ‘i he toka mai ‘Ene hōifua, ke fakahoko lelei ‘a e ‘ahó ni mo e ngaahi ‘amanaki kotoa pe mo e teuteu kuo fai ke fakahoko ‘a e polokalama mahu’inga ko eni ‘oku tau fakaava he ‘ahó ni.

‘Oku ou tokanga’i mei he ngaahi tohi fakamatala tokateu ‘o e fakatahá ni, ‘oku ‘iai ‘a e fiema’u lahi, tautautefito ki Tongá ni pea ‘oku ou tui pe mo e ni’ihi e ngaahi fonua lahi ‘i hotau kaunga’api ‘i he Pasifiki, ‘oku ‘iai ‘a e fiema’u lahi ke tau toe tokanga mo vakai ki ha fakafo’ou pe ke tau mahu’inga’ia ‘i hotau ‘ulungaanga fakafonuá.

‘I he ngaahi ‘ahó ni, ‘oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi veipā mo e ngaahi tālanga ‘o fekau’aki mo e me’a ko ia ko e ‘ulungaanga faka-fonua, pea ‘oku tau tui ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku fokotu’u ai ‘e he Va’a e Ngaahi Kautaha e Ngaahi Pule’anga, pe ko e United Nation ‘a hono va’a koia ‘oku ui ko e UNESCO, ke hoko e ta’u 2010 ko e ta’u faka-Vaha’a Pule’anga ke ne toe hoko atu e fetalanoa’aki ki he ‘Ulungaanga faka-Fonua pe ko e ‘20010 International Year for the Approcahment of Culturalship’.

‘Oku ou fakamālō lahi atu ki he ‘Eiki Ministā ‘o e Potungāue Akó, Ngaahi Ngāue ‘a e Fafiné mo e ‘Ulungaanga faka-Fonuá, ‘i he fokotu’utu’u ko ‘eni, ke fai ‘a e tokanga ki he ngaahi founga ‘e tokoni ki hono fakatolonga ‘a hotau ‘ulungaanga faka-fonua pea mo e me’a ‘okú ne malu’i ‘a hotau Tongá.

‘E ‘ikai teu tui ‘e mate pe ‘e mole ‘a hotau ‘ulungaanga faka-fonuá, he ko e me’a ia ‘oku mo’ui, pea ‘i he ‘ene mo’uí, kuopau pe ke ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi liliu ‘o makatu’unga ‘i he ngaahi fakalakalaka kuo hake mai ki he fonuá, ka ‘oku ‘iai ‘a hotau tefito’i ‘ulungaanga faka-fonua, ‘oku tautau ki ai ‘a hotau ngaahi anga faka-fonua pea ko e ngaahi ‘ulungaanga ia ‘oku tau laukau ai ‘a hotau Tongá.

Ko e langimama’o ia e La’á kuo tō, koe Kuini ‘ofeina; Kuini Salote, pea na’a ne fakatoka ki he loto’i Tongá ‘a e faka’apa’apá, mamahi’i me’á, loto toó mo e feveitokai’akí, ko ia ‘a e taufatungamotu’a ‘a hotau ‘ulungaanga faka-fonuá.

‘Oku ou fakataunge ‘e hiliange ‘a e ngaahi ouau e Kava-kuo-Heka 2010, kuo tau a’usia ‘a e ngaahi tefito’i mo’oni ke ne fakalotolahi’i kitautolu ke kei fakatolonga pea ke kei pukepuke ‘a hotau ‘ulungaanga faka-fonua.

For the benefit of our English speaking guests, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all, to this ‘Kava-kuo-Heka 2010 Festival.

I hope that over the next few days you’ll find enjoyment and enlightenment seeing our most precious cultural traditions and objects during the festival.

I also want to congratulate the Hon. Minister and the Minister of Education, Women’s Affairs and Culture for taking this initiative, to join the many countries of the world and celebrate the United Nations year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

I also understand that these efforts is an collaboration with UNESCO and the Tonga Tradition Committee, and would like to thank the organizers for setting up the various programs to promote and protect Tonga's cultural diversity.

I am sure that we all agree, we cannot do enough in emphasising the importance of promoting the protection of our culture and I wish this forum every success in all activities that will take place over the next few days. We would all benefit from promoting and protecting our culture diversities.

Malo ‘aupito, ‘Ofa atu.

'Au Mei Moana Catalogue

Opening Day Program
Graphics and Design by Dale Mark Ackermann
Printing by Deakin University

Artists & Organising Committee
Fa'onelua Convention Centre
Nuku'alofa, TONGA

Tattoo Artist Su'a Suluape 'Aisea Toetu'u

Fiji Community Performing

Catalogue

Catalogue
Graphic design by Dale Mark Ackermann.  All printing by Deakin University.

The Tongan Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs & Culture in conjunction with The Tonga Traditions Committee presents 'Au Mei Moana – Returning Tides: The Tonga Cultural Heritage Exhibition. Hosted at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, from July 27 – August 1, 2010.

The Ministry and the Traditions Committee seek to help the public understand Tongan cultural experiences and in this instance are using objects and ideas to interpret the past, document the present, and explore the future of the Kingdom of Tonga. The goal is to strengthen ties between the local and overseas Tongan communities by presenting artistic examples of quality, diversity and spirit from our society for locals and visitors of all ages.

1.Peni Tonga, Edna Lepa & Hon. Tupou'ahome'e Tuita Faupula
2. Performers visiting the exhibition
3.Performers at the opening
4.Performers at the opening ceremony

This exhibition will be a point of contact between the public, artists and museums. The stories shared through this exhibition and performances will highlight who we are as individuals within a local, national and global Tongan community.

Tongan artists are invited to submit artwork for consideration in the exhibition. The theme of the exhibition is ‘Au Mei Moana – Returning Tides’ seeking to forge between the island and the diaspora. It is a celebration of Tongan culture by Tongan artists through contemporary media including the visual arts, dance, and music.


Fa'onelua Convention Centre
Nuku'alofa, TONGA
27 July - 2 August 2010


Curator Loketi Niua Latu

Seinileva Hu'akau, Maryann 'Aholelei, Loketi Niua Latu

Artists
Australia
'Eseta Hones 'Aholelei
Tevita Havea
Seinileva Hu'akau
Emily Mafile'o

Tevita Havea & Connie Florez

New Zealand
Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi
Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka
Terry Koloamatangi Klavenes
Dagmar Dyck
'Ahota'e'iloa Toetu'u
Vea Mafile'o
Maryann 'Aholelei
Visesio Siasau
'Elenoa Hema Telefoni
Hawaii
Su'a Sulu'ape 'Aisea Toetu'u
Taueva Fa'otusia

Taueva Fa'otusia & Su'a Sulu'ape 'Aisea Toetu'u

Dale Ackermann, Jacob Holcombe, Hon.Lupepau'u Tuita

Hon.Tu'ilokamana Tuita, Seinileva, Loketi, Maryann, Dale and Jacob
Closing night dinner hosted by Hon.Lupepau'u Tuita

Ben, Lōpeti and Tevita Havea

USA
'Amelia Leafatulagi Niumeitolu
Fiji
Lingikoni Vaka'uta
Oceania Performing Group

Loketi Niua Latu & Lingikoni Vaka'uta

Tonga
Lesieli Tupou
Moana Guttenbeil
John Maileseni
On The Spot Arts Initiative
Tevita Pola'apau
Feinga Fanguna

Hon. Tuna Fielakepa & artist Taueva Fa'otusia
Artwork: Fish and Taro by Taueva Fa'otusia

Dr Adrienne Kaeppler & artist Taueva Fa'otusia
Artwork: Kaloni Kakala by 'Eseta 'Aholelei

GPS students visiting the show

Hon.Tu'ilokamana Tuita and Lavengamālie College students

Fā'e by Tevita Havea

Tāmai by Tevita Havea

Artist Talk

Opening Day

This year the project has expanded and involves over thirty artists from the Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the United States and has included media such as painting, sculpture, tattoo and installation.  The strength of the work suggests that artists of Tongan descent are forging new traditions of art making which address a wide range of subjects including heritage, mythology, identity, and globalization.  'Au Mei Moana artists push away from the ancient and historical foundations which the Tongan public has come to rely upon and moves us towards innovation and experimentation.  It is by acknowledging the traditional and customary that we as a people can incorporate change and grow even stronger.  Several people have been instrumental in bringing this project to fulfilment.  It has been an honour to work with the foremost creative minds of Tongan heritage from around the world, those who challenge us to embrace our culture while expanding our experience of what it means to be a Tongan today.

                    

 Loketi Niua Latu
Curator

Dr. Tevita Palefau, Dr. Viliami Fukofuka, Loketi Niua Latu & Guest of Honour:Hon. Lupepau'u Tuita

Sculpture: Tamai by Tevita Havea