Pacific Artists on Activism: Using creativity for change

This panel event will spotlight the power of storytelling and creative expression in Pacific communities as tools for activism and social change. Join us as we showcase the brilliant contributions of Pacific writers, musicians, and artists from the Pacific diaspora on Gadigal lands (Sydney, Australia) to social justice and cultural advocacy.

Join us for an empowering talanoa on what it means to be a Pacific artist and how our messages of solidarity, equity and social justice can be amplified in a culturally responsive way. In line with the broader vision of UTS Inclusion Festival (Monday 12 August – Friday 16 August) our panel will wrap up the first day of a range of events that explore current diversity and inclusion initiatives and best practices across the university. Refreshments will be provided!

Event details

3.00 pm -3.30pm: Registration open
3.30 pm: Event commences
3.50 pm: Panel session commences
4.50 pm: Event concludes and refreshments provided

Panel Speakers

Hau Lātūkefu: Hau Lātūkefu is an Australian hip hop musician, radio host, Rap pioneer, ARIA-winner, producer, label-owner, mentor. He is best known as half of the duo Koolism, the host of triple j's hip hop program and is an author of the acclaimed memoir 'KING: Life, Death and Hip Hop' (2022) published by Penguin Australia Books.

Ray Lalotoa: Raymond Tuifao Lalotoa is a Samoan painter and musician whose family migrated to the Western Suburbs of Sydney from Wellington, New Zealand at age 13. Lalotoa has earned a reputation for his mixed media works which explore his fluency in urban and cultural pictorial languages. His art which is never pre-planned is a raw collision of the Sydney underground scene, politics, music and poetry with Lalotoa’s Pacific Island heritage creating a strong graphic language utilising a hypnotic colour palette.

Stelly G: Seremia Adimate/ Stelly G is a Gadigal-based Fijian performance artist with an anti-colonial practice that foregrounds the Pacific-diaspora experience by interrogating colonial structures that have invited shame and forced us to neglect self-love, communal care, and understanding. Stelly has performed as a solo/collaborative artist across many established institutions and galleries including Cement Fondu, Sydney Biennale, MCA, Sydney Opera House, Firstdraft, and Campbelltown Arts Centre, and performed in works with Garden Reflexxx that have shown in local and international film festivals.

This event is proudly brought to you by our UTS Partners: UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the UTS Gallery.