When Vunilagi Vou’s first gallery site opened in Ōtāhuhu in 2019, an ambitious programme of monthly exhibitions was delivered until the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of the gallery in March 2020 due to the nationwide lockdown. Nine exhibitions were delivered at this original site; they are documented and discussed in Vunilagi Vou’s first publication, VV:Dua.
In October 2020, a new gallery site was launched in the form of Vunilagi Vou 2.0. The first exhibition there, Fofola Koloa – Unfolding my Koloa was a site-specific archival exhibition by sister artists Emily and Vea Mafile’o. The process of developing Vunilagi Vou’s second site is discussed in a lyrical essay about shapeshifting.
In 2021, a new approach to exhibition making was trialled in two water shows – twin solo exhibitions by Antonio Filipo and David Garcia, thematically connected and delivered simultaneously at public and private locations in Ōtara and Papatoetoe.
The Vunilagi Vou exhibitions programme moved temporarily to The Alexander Cafe in Ōtara in mid-2021 delivering, Put Some Respect on My Name, a storytelling project by Jeremiah Tauamiti, Killer of a Time by Emily Mafile’o and Becoming by Peatree.
After a short hiatus, the fourth iteration of Vunilagi Vou was opened in East Tāmaki, South Auckland. Vunilagi Vou x East Tāmaki opened on 17 August 2022 with a survey exhibition of Vunilagi Vou’s short but tumultuous art history of shapeshifting from a commercial site in Ōtāhuhu, a residential space in suburban Papatoetoe to a cafe in a refurbished factory in Ōtara.
In 2023, Vunilagi Vou delivered a ‘Season of Solos’ – three back-to-back solo exhibitions, produced with support from Creative New Zealand and BoostedxMoana crowdfunding efforts.
The decision was made to close the gallery in August 2023. Vunilagi Vou’s swan song final exhibition, Muscle Memory – a solo exhibition by Genevieve Pini opened in October.
A summary of Vunilagi Vou Exhibitions, 2019-2023
Vunilagi Vou – Ōtāhuhu
WWJD:2
1-29 June 2019
Featuring: Margaret Aull, Melissa Cole, Tanu Gago, Julia Mage’au Gray, Leilani Kake, Andy Leleisi’uao, Niutuiatua Lemalu, Sinia Malua, Molima Pihigia, Vea Mafile’o, ‘Ahota’e’iloa Toetu’u, Vaimaila Urale and Daniel Sweetman
Putiputi
2 July – 3 August 2019
Featuring: Nigel Borell, Melissa Cole & Rudi Robinson, Denzal Tauelima, Faleata Ualesi and Teura Wichman
Fofonga ‘oe kau fakafoki – The faces of those who have returned
6-31 August 2019
A solo exhibition by Todd Henry
Lain Blo Yu Mi – Our People Our Lines
3-28 September 2019
Featuring: Marks by Julia Mage’au Gray, stories by Emmaline Matagi and Michaelyn Pokarop
FAFSWAG6
1 October – 2 November 2019
Featuring members of the FAFSWAG collective
Sweet Jungle of Mine
6 – 30 November 2019
Featuring Lissy Cole and Rudi Robinson
Finding Emory: A Poster Show
4 December 2019 – 25 January 2020
Featuring: Cypris Afakasi, Tanu Gago, Leilani Kake, Sean Kerrigan, Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho & Rebecca Ann Hobbs, Siliga David Setoga and Tokerau Wilson
FAT
5 – 29 February 2020
Featuring: Louisa Afoa, Riki Tipu Anderson, Lissy Cole, Jessicoco Hansell, Amy Lautogo for Infamy Apparel, Meagan Kerr and Elyssia Wilson-Heti
Safe as Houses
4 March – 4 April 2020
* Closed on 20 March due to nationwide Covid-19 lockdown
Featuring: Marcus Hipa, Craig Horne and Metiria Turei
Vunilagi Vou 2.0 – Papatoetoe
Fofola Koloa – Unfolding my Koloa
10 October – 21 November 2020
Featuring Emily & Vea Mafile’o
Pussy Fat
12 February – 13 March 2021
Featuring Sara Moana, Ema Tavola
big islands deep oceans
29 March – 12 May 2021
Featuring David Garcia
VV x The Alexander Cafe
Ngāti Ōtara
29 March – 12 May 2021
Featuring Antonio Filipo
Put Some Respect on my Name
12 June – 31 July 2021
A project by Jeremiah Tauamiti featuring Elizabeth Koroivulaono, Tanya Muagututi’a, Vela Manusaute, Te Amohaere Ngata-Aerengamate, Raymond Sagapolutele, Benjamin Tamanikaiyaroi, Ema Tavola, Essendon Tu’itupou and Samson Vaotu’ua.
Killer of a Time / Becoming
12 June – 31 July 2021
Featuring Emily Mafile’o, Peatree
Vunilagi Vou x East Tāmaki
Backbone
27 April – 10 June 2023
Featuring Ema Tavola
Let’s Play Outside
31 August – 14 October 2023
Featuring Niu Lemalu
Muscle Memory
26 September – 10 December 2023
Featuring Genevieve Pini
