Weaving Pasefika

Kia ora, Halo olgeta, Malo e lelei, Bula, Talofa lava, Noa’ia, Mauri ora, Fakaalofa lahi atu,  Malo ni, Kia Orana, and Pasefika greetings. 

Weaving Pasefika is an interactive workshop that explores traditional and contemporary weaving methods, designs and practices that are emblematic of Pasefika cultures and peoples in Victoria. Through weaving, storytelling and song, local artists Vicki Kinai (Papua New Guinea), Veisinia Tonga (Tonga), Tane Te Manu Tawhairiri (Aotearoa) and Pasefika Vitoria Choir invite you to explore and connect with them through a shared love of creative arts.  

Weaving Pasefika is curated by Rita Seumanutafa-Palala (Sāmoa) as part of her creative research residency at the Grainger Museum and follows the successful Grainger Symposium: Music and Pasefika Cultural Collections event (2024). Rita's residency provides community connection, insights, stories and information to the museum’s Pacific collection – which consists of objects Percy Grainger collected through his travels in the Pacific during the twentieth century.

Schedule:

• 10–11.30am: Weaving 1 
• 11.30am–1pm: Weaving 2: 
• 1-1.30pm: Lunch & Choir 
• 1.30–3pm: Weaving 3

Limited spaces, book now!

Weavers

Tāne Te Manu Tawhairiri (Aotearoa)
Tāne Te Manu is a multidisciplinary artist, kaiwhatu (weaver), digital artist, and Poi exponent. His work is a reflection of his rich ancestral heritage, blending traditional craftsmanship and design into both traditional and contemporary forms, all crafted from a mix of natural and contemporary materials. Tāne is a self-employed creative and owner of The Maori Creiatve by Arawa Designs and facilitates weaving and Korowai workshops ‘Te Whare Pohewa’ at Woods St Art Space in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Tāne Te Manu is direct descendant of Te Whānāu ā Apanui, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāi Makino, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Rangitihi, and Ngāti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Veisinia Tonga (Tonga)
Veisinia Tonga is a weaver, kakala (plant material) artist and storyteller. A settler who is creating on the lands of the Kulin Nations. Veisinia marries her training in western floristry with her traditional kakala knowledge to create installations with plant material gleaned from her surroundings. In her homeland, Tonga, plants tell stories of place and are often symbolic of lineage and legends. Veisinia is interested in examining how this can evolve on a foreign land using foreign kakala. Veisinia was the State Library of Victoria’s creative fellow in 2022, and an exhibiting artist at Blak Dot Gallery for Fringe Festival 2020. 

Vicki Kinai (Papua New Guinea)
Papua New Guinean-born artist and master weaver Vicki Kinai is highly recognized for Practicing ‘Bilum Weaving’ a traditional weaving skill learnt from her grandmother, mother and aunties at an early age. She facilitates weaving, art/craft with cultural story telling sessions for all ages at schools, community centres, libraries and events and uses her love of weaving to maintain connection with the Pasefika communities of Australia. She is currently a community cultural ambassador receiving a number of awards from Multicultural Arts Victoria in recognition for her contributions to community as a mentor, facilitator and sharing her culture and connecting diverse communities across Australia and overseas. Vicki is from Mt. Hagen in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

Photo credit: Flying Art Studios

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Presented as part of Melbourne Design Week, Australia’s largest and leading annual design festival. Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.