The first exhibition inspired by the practice of iTaukei women tattooing female will be held tonight at the Fiji Museum in Suva, aptly coinciding with International Women’s Day.

Veiqia project curator Tarisi Vunidilo said the main reason for the project was to celebrate women tattooing in Fiji and bringing the research home.

In 2015, five contemporary Fijian women artist based in Australia and New Zealand were part of a generated indigenous research archive driven by personal, artistic and relational connections.

“What we found in our research was that for women in Fiji tattooing was a rite of passage but it’s been lost since the 1830’s when the missionaries arrived,” said Mrs Vunidilo.

The five women will be displaying their own form of contemporary response to tattooing using their own art form from their provinces here.

The areas of display will be in masi making, pottery, photography, dance, and film amongst others.

“The five artists would be collaborating with five local based artist to produce new work to be on display for the next three months,” she said.

Mrs Vunidilo is very grateful that they have brought the project to Fiji to benefit the local women and hope it’s the first of many exhibition to come.

More artists who are part of the exhibition are: Margaret Aull, Selai Buasala, Mereula Buliruarua, Elizabeth Edwards, Donita Hulme, Katarina Lesumai, Joana Monolagi, Dulcie Stewart, Laurel Stewart, Luisa Tora, and VOU Dance Fiji (Mere Rosi Navuda, Elizabeth Tanya Sidal, Bernadette Kaulotu Suiqa, Koleta Dravuni Tobeyaweni, and Ta’Arei Weeks).

Meanwhile, Veiqia Open Day will be open to the public this Saturday with the exhibition display running for three months at the Fiji Museum.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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