We’ve had a busy first month operating Vunilagi Vou 2.0 in its new setting. Appointments have been fairly regular, allowing visitors to spend time absorbing the ideas behind the exhibition and learning about the space. The current show, Fofola Koloa – Unfolding my Koloa ends on 21 November and Vunilagi Vou’s 11th exhibition, a stock room sale, will open on a new schedule, in time with the full moon.
The past month has been a busy time for press with much interest being generated through our primary platform, Instagram and the documentation of Vunilagi Vou 2.0’s journey from idea to manifestation through the hashtag, #VunilagiVou2_0.
This article was originally written for Auckland arts organisation, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi and later published on The Big Idea on 8 October 2020, about Vunilagi Vou’s Covid pivot:
This interview with Eteuati Ete for Radio 531pi aired on 12 October 2020:
This long-form discussion for the Thought Plantation Podcast, aired on 19 October 2020, and covers a broad enquiry about the journey towards opening Vunilagi Vou. Giovanni Lolohea is a psychiatric nurse by day, and a passionate podcaster by night!
This commissioned text was written for the Pacific Arts Legacy Project, an initiative of Creative New Zealand, and published on Pantograph Punch on 6 November 2020. Whilst it is not directly about Vunilagi Vou, it is about the cultural context that inspired this gallery, and the environment that birthed Fresh Gallery Ōtara.
This article by Fijian journalist Torika Tokalau was written for Stuff and published on 9 November 2020 featuring a short video shot by David White. Whilst this story revolved around Vunilagi Vou as an individual effort, the core role of artist and builder Sean Kerrigan regrettably was not mentioned here, and should have been; he played an incredibly important role in bringing Vunilagi Vou 2.0 to life.
And finally, it is a huge privilege to be profiled as part of NUKU, a project driven by Ihumātao-based writer and photographer, Qiane Matata-Sipu, profiling indigenous women doing kickass things! Read more and listen to the accompanying podcast here.
Although published well before we opened Vunilagi Vou 2.0, this commissioned text published by Enjoy Contemporary Art Space in Wellington documents the process of shapeshifting Vunilagi Vou’s site and ethos as a result of the global pandemic. As this space grows and evolves, the moment in time captured in this essay feels like an increasingly significant part of our art history.
More coming soon about a new approach to writing exhibition texts, the upcoming Stock Room Sale and plans for 2021 after a successful crowdfunding campaign effort!
vinaka vakalevu