A Pacific Feminist Agenda

Curated by Ane Tonga, Declaration brings together 12 prominent artists from across the Pacific whose works set a feminist agenda by bringing to the fore the most pressing issues of our times: climate change and resilience, tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty), activism and social justice.

Exhibiting artists include AUT alumnus Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, who completed a Master of Performance and Media Arts at AUT in 2016, and was awarded the Harriet Friedlander Residency in 2021.

The new Vice-Chancellor of AUT, Damon Salesa, says it is wonderful to see this celebration of Pacific feminist art at Auckland Art Gallery. “Matrilineal knowledge and strength are central to people of the Moana. Time and again we hear our students tell us how they stand on the shoulders of their grandmothers and mothers. AUT is proud to be partner to this latest exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery, on the back of the success of Toi Tū Toi Ora. I know I will take the opportunity to visit this exhibition many times and I encourage everyone at AUT and in our city to make time to visit.”

Artists in this exhibition draw on the power of matrilineal knowledge, put their bodies on the line and amplify voices to reflect an approach to feminism that empowers the agency of all genders. Presenting major commissioned projects, rarely seen artworks and ephemera from institutional and private collections, Declaration builds a Pacific feminist trajectory within contemporary art.

Declaration: A Pacific Feminist Agenda features works by Jasmine Togo-Brisby, Marti Friedlander, Jessicoco Hansell, Taloi Havini, Lonnie Hutchinson, Ioane Ioane, Sione Monū, Suzanne Tamaki, Latai Taumoepeau, Molly Rangiwai-McHale & Luisa Tora and Kalisolaite ’Uhila.

Declaration runs from Saturday 26 Mar 2022 to Sunday 31 Jul 2022, and is free entry.