Tonga's Constitution Day Talk in Auckland NZ

I was invited by Okaiocenikart Gallery at Karangahape Rd, Auckland, New Zealand in 2008 to speak about the Tonga Cultural Heritage Exhibitions.  The works began in 2007 to the present day.

1. Kava Kuo Heka    2009
2. 'Au Mei Moana     2010

http://www.okaioceanikart.com

My Talk

The Ministry of Education/Women’s Affairs & Tonga Culture together with the Tonga Traditions Committe is hosting the Tonga Cultural Heritage Exhibition at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre from July 27- 1 August 2009.

The exhibition is to celebrate and revive awareness of Tongan Culture through contemporary Arts mediums.  Both these Ministries are in a powerful position to help its people understand the world, through objects and ideas to interpret the past, present and explore the future of the Kingdom of Tonga.

It has the capacity to strengthen the local and overseas Tongan communities and to create awareness of the richness of our society by presenting this exhibition and a range of other services for locals and visitors of all ages.

Exhibitions are the points of contact between the public, artists and museums.  The stories shared through exhibitions and displays enable us to understand who we are as individuals within a local, national and global Tongan community.

The concept of hosting an exhibition was envisioned by Hon.Tu’ilokamana Tuita – Officer in Charge of Tonga Culture and I.  I was asked to be the curator because I am what is termed in Tonga FOC.  I of course felt very important and not wanting to sound ignorant about what FOC meant,  I welcomed the challenge.  I have worked tirelessly in the last 3 months  being FOC in my curatorial role.

I flew in from Tonga yesterday after attending high level meetings with both Ministries regarding the exhibition, where I constantly heard – is Loketi FOC-ing?  And seeing people nodding and smiling and feeling my blood pressure rise - I whispered to Tu’ilokamana – what is FOC? And she laughed out loud replying – “Free kaukau” – it means you are working – Free of Charge!

The budget and exhibition proposal were discussed in detail and I am relieved in the knowledge that the audience for this exhibition -the Tongan public and anyone wanting to attend – will also be FOC. 

There is an urgency to rekindle ties between Tongans overseas and the locals and, to feel national pride by not being political.  By giving locals and overseas Tongans a platform to be artistic will thus bring back a united front through crafts once made out of necessity for everyday village life and not as a business commodity.

The exhibition is a small stepping stone towards reviving local pride and is also intended to be an eye opener for local Tongans to consider The Arts as another avenue of study. 

It is also to encourage the importance of passing down tangible and intangible Tongan cultural Heritage mediums – for this is our  irreplaceable assets as Tongans for the future.

So far there are 20 artists confirmed to attend from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, the US and Tonga.  The exhibition will be a success if we as Tongans all contribute FOC – Free of Charge anything that you feel will bring back national pride to Tonga.

Loketi Niua Latu

Curator