Her Royal Highness Princess of Tonga to launch The Melbourne Tapa

MEDIA RELEASE 

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Image: courtesy of Paula Moimoi Latu

HRH Princess of Tonga to launch The Melbourne Tapa 

Craft (formerly Craft Victoria) is pleased to announce that The Melbourne Tapa exhibition will be officially launched on Thursday 2 August 2012 by Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Tuku’aho of Tonga. 

We are honoured to have this landmark event opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Halaevalu Mata‘aho Napua O-Ka-Lani Tuku‘aho. 

This launch marks her first official duty as the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia. 

“

We are honoured by the presence of HRH Princess Angelika Tuku’aho and her support of the Pacific artistic community in Melbourne in promoting and advancing this culturally significant project,” says Joe Pascoe, CEO & Artistic Director, Craft.

The Melbourne Tapa is a 20-metre long artwork by 13 Pacific Island women. Curated by Loketi Niua Latu, it is the first of its kind made in Australia and will be displayed at Craft, 31 Flinders Lane. 

The Melbourne Tapa is a keynote exhibition within the Craft Cubed festival program. Craft Cubed is all about new world-standard craft from the community. It is uniquely curated for craft makers at all stages of their careers. It is the only event of its kind in Australia. This year’s Craft Cubed is its most international yet, with speakers from Tokyo and the Pacific Islands. 

The Melbourne Tapa 

Launch Thursday 2 August 2012, 6-8pm 

Showing 3 August to 1 September 2012 

Venue Galleries 1 & 2, Craft, 31 Flinders Lane
 www.craftvic.org.au 

MEDIA Print-ready images, artist & curator interviews all available on request via media@craftvic.org.au or 03 9650 7775 

Images: HRH Princess Angelika Tuku’aho, image courtesy Loketi Niua Latu. Tapa (installation detail), image courtesy Loketi Niua Latu.