2 August 2012, Craft 31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Photos: Jorge De Araujo & Lily Feng
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| Full house |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho Launch Speech |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho presenting Joe Pascoe with a gift |
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| Fatai Veamatahau (Fatai V) performing ' The Prayer ' |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho |
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| Adi Seka Senico & Rev. Samani Sila |
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| Tapa Ladies |
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| Tapa Ladies |
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| Tongan Dancers |
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| Mavaeta'u Valu |
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| Sesilia 'Amato Wardell, Ali'itasi T Trood & Lavinia Taipaleti-Valu |
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| Beckett Rozentals & Friends |
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| Fatai V, HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho, Seini Veamatahau |
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| Emeretta Cross & Friends |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho & Frances Masina Trood |
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| Rev. Samani Sila & Friends |
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| Judith Ryan, Sana Balai & friends |
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| Beckett Rozentals & partner Photo: Lily Feng |
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| Tongan Kava Band |
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| Teisa Faletau, Sesilia 'Amato Wardell, Latainiu'ui Kamitoni, Besi Wood-Ellem Photo: Meliame Fifita |
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| Leila Heimoana |
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| Tongan Girls Dancing to 'Hala Kuo Papa' |
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| Ma'ata Palavi-Makasini & Besi Wood-Ellem Photo: Mavaeta'u Valu |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho & Besi Wood-Ellem Photo: Ema Fifita Uhi |
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| Gareth Evans & Besi Wood-Ellem |
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| Besi Wood-Ellem & Ma'ata Palavi-Makasini |
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| Fatai V & family |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho & Melbourne Tapa ladies Photo: Joseph Heimoana |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho & Tapa Ladies Photo: Mavaeta'u Valu |
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| Sesilia 'Amato & friends |
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| Photo: Lily Feng |
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| Tapa Ladies talking to Besi Wood-Ellem before the launch |
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| HRH Princess Angelika Tuku'aho |
Ms Ramona Barry – Chairwoman
Distinguished Pacific community leaders
Ms Loketi Niua Latu – Curator
Our celebrated Pacific women artists
Ladies and Gentlemen
INTRODUCTION
Three days ago I started in my new capacity as High Commissioner of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia - and one aspect of this responsibility is being charged as a promoter of Tongan culture and traditions. I am therefore proud tonight to commence my diplomatic duty by being here to launch the Melbourne Tapa Exhibition 2012 and to celebrate our ancestral artwork and heritage.
It is endearing to witness that our Pacific Island cultural traditions are vibrant and alive in a most extraordinary way - especially in this great multicultural metropolis of Melbourne.
TAPA ARTWORK
To my understanding, the unique artwork before us is the first of its type to have been made in Australia - and arguably in the world. As an artwork, it both preserves and informs us of how our culture stays strong and yet still adapts - as it tells stories of 13 women from Samoa, Fiji, Aotearoa and my beloved Tonga.
As you all know, tapa production has a special place in our Pacific Island culture as it is understood in the islands that bark cloth is literally the fabric of our Pacific society. As such, our assembling here tonight is a testament to our support towards the preservation of this fabric as it symbolises the richness of our culture and that of our contemporary craft creativity.
TATAU
I am also honoured to launch the “Polynesian Tattoo Today” book authored by Ms. Tricia Allen as part of the Craft and NGV Studio collaborative Tatau exhibition.
Liken to tapa craft, tatau is both alluring and mysterious as it expresses dignity, identity, and personality. Rich in tradition, tatau signifies the status and identity of the wearer as it depicts individual stories and journeys.
Both tapa and tatau remind us of the power of craft to help us understand each other.
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
In celebrating both tapa and tatau, may I acknowledge a few individuals whose foresight and vision had resulted in tonight’s triumph.
Firstly, my sincere gratitude to Mr. Joe Pascoe, CEO and Director of Craft Victoria - whose direction and enterprise has culminated in the creative project before us.
Also – my deep gratitude to the Australia Pacific Arts Network & Brim Bank City Council for their diligent and unfailing support.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Loketi Niua Latu and her Pacific women craft supporters whom have allowed us tonight to interpret our Pacific past, document the present and explore our future.
In my role as an Ambassador, I am pleased to salute you all for being cultural ambassador yourselves on behalf of our island culture. I have every confidence that Mr. Joe Pascoe and his sponsors would continue to support you on your ongoing and future artistic pursuits.
‘Oku ou ‘ofa lahi atu kia kimoutolu, pea pehee foki ‘a hotau kainga Tonga ‘oku lonuku heni.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I recall an island saying that you can take the boy (or girl) out of the island, but you cannot take the island out of the boy (or girl). I thank you all – sponsors, curators, and artists alike for bringing out the island heritage tonight as we are all here to support the Pacific artistic craft.
The artwork we are celebrating tonight symbolizes the journeys of the artists – their journey – our journey. And further than that, it also depicts of where we came from, who we are, and where we are going.
In this connection, may I declare the Craft Cubed & Melbourne Tapa 2012 Exhibition opened.
‘Ofa Atu.
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| Curator Loketi Niua Latu |
Fakatapu atu ki he Ta’ahine Fakaafe Fakalangilangi, Ta'ahine Talafekau Lahi 'a Tonga ki 'Aositelēlia′, Pilinisesi Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata'aho Napua-'o-Kalani Tuku'aho.
Tapu moe hou’eiki ‘o Fisi, Adi Keresi Seka Senico, kae ‘uma’a ‘ae houeiki ‘o Solosolo, Ha’amoa, Tupolesava'a Pulepule Matu’u II, Kau Kuia, Marae Melbourne, kae’uma’a ‘a Fiona Barry, Joe Pascoe, Ha’a Taki Lotu, Kau Fafine Tufunga Fakamea’a ‘oe ‘aho ni, moe kimoutolu hono kotoa ‘oku lonuku ‘i Craft ‘ihe ‘efiafi’ni koe’uhi ko e katoanga mahu’inga ni.
Ta’ahine, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e lea ‘oku taka ‘i ho fonua ‘oku pehẽ, “Ka tapa e huelo ‘o e la’ā ‘i he kakala, ‘e toki ma’ui’ui pea ne ‘alaha!” ‘Oku mo’oni ‘a e lea ni Ta’ahine, he ko ho’o me’a mai ke fakalangilangi’i ‘a e katoanga ni, ‘oku mau ongo’i hange ‘oku mau ma’u ha mo’ui fo’ou. ‘Oku fiefia pea pātapata homau loto´ he langi ‘oku kei tu’u´, ke fakahahā ‘oku kei Tonga pe ‘a Tonga neongo ‘a e lau ta’u ‘emau fetangutu’i ‘i he fonua muli ni.
Ko ho’o me’a heni he ‘aho ni´, ke kei fakamanatu kiate kimautolu, ko e famili kitautolu ‘e taha mei he Pasifiki, ho tau angafakafonua´ pea pehe ki he ‘etau koloa tukufakaholo, ‘o hangẽ koia kuo fakahingoa’aki ‘a e faka’ali’ali ko’eni ko e The Melbourne Tapa Exhibition. ‘Oku ou polepole he langimama’o ‘a Ha’a Tu’i mo e hou’eiki ‘o e ‘aneafi´ ‘i hono fakatolonga mai ‘a e koloa ‘o e poto’i ‘ilo ki hono ngaohi ‘o e ngatu´ mei ono’aho ki he ‘aho ni, pea mo’etau ‘amanaki ‘e pehẽ aipe ki he kaha’u na.
Ko e ngatu, ko e fo’i tufunga mea’a ‘oku katoi ai ‘a e fika, siomita, ‘asitolonoma, kalakulasi mo e fisiolosia ‘o e ‘akau ‘o natula. Ko e ‘ilo ko’eni na’e fakatoka mei ‘aneafi – na’e huli, moto mo matala pea kuo tuku’au mai ‘o a’u mai hono ‘alaha, he laui to’utangata, ‘o tau lavemonū ai he ‘aho ni. Pea hangẽ koia ko e lea na’aku fakahua’aki ‘i he kamata, Ta’ahine, “’oku kei tapa ‘a e la’ā he kakala pea ‘oku kei ma’ui’ui mo ‘alaha´.” ‘Oku mau kei monū’ia mo fiefia ‘i he ‘aho ni´, ko ho’o me’a mai. ‘Oku mau lau ia ko homau tāpuaki he fangu malingi mei Falelahi!
‘Oku ou tu’a ’ofa atu, leveleva ẽ malanga kau tatau atu
English Translation by Uanivā Hāvea
Your Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Napua-‘o-Kalani Tuku’aho, the Tongan High Commissioner to Australia, our Guest of Honour.
Members of the Fijian Nobility, Adi Keresi Seka Senico, the Nobility of Solosolo, Samoa, Tupolesava'a Pulepule Matu’u II, Kau Kuia & Kau Matua, Marae Melbourne, Fiona Barry, Joe Pascoe, Members of the Clergy, Our Women artists, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen who are here with us at Craft this evening for this important celebration.
Your Royal Highness, there is a lingering phrase in your land that “upon glistening of the sunrays on the fragrant flower, only then will it become vibrant with its perfume flourishing.” This truth is witnessed here today because your presence has graced this celebration and we experience the excitement of a new life. Our hearts are filled with endless joy for the positioned heaven remains to declare that Tonga is still timeless Tonga even though we have lived in this distant land for so many years.
Your presence here today, continues to remind us that we belong to one family from the Pacific, in our customs as well as our priceless traditional artwork as indicated by the name given to this exhibition, The Melbourne Tapa Exhibition. I am proud that the gifted faculty of our royal lineages of kings and nobilities continue to ensure the preservation of our most precious knowledge and skills in making ngatu from ancient times past to the present and it is our anticipation that this will continue on the same pathway into the future.
Tapa is an art that embraces mathematics, geometry, astronomy, calculus and the physiology of natural plants. This knowledge developed in antiquity, from its seedling, emerged its first leaves, its buds formed floral heads where flowers blossomed with its perfumes wafting from generations to generations enriching us with enjoyment today. As I expressed at the start, Your Royal Highness, the sun maintains its glittering rays on the fragrant flower bringing it to life with its sweet scents abiding. We are indeed fortunate and are overjoyed in your gracing us with your presence. We count our blessings in the fragrant oil that flows from the Royal Palace.
The Pacific Ocean covers one-third of earth’s surface and is inhabited by hundreds of cultural groups. Contemporary Pacific artists have continued and recycled many artistic traditions and have added new ones, like those told in the vibrant and audacious Melbourne Tapa.
It has been a very long artistic journey together, with so many highs and lows. Barkcloth is intimately associated with the aesthetics of presentation, and today I present to Your Royal Highness Princess High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia, together with all who are here today ---The Melbourne Tapa.
