Shadow fighting (2007)
Acrylic, PVA glue, Manukau Courier and NZ Herald newspaper cuttings, framed
Ema Tavola (b.1982) is a Fijian-Pākehā artist-curator currently based in South Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Having established her painting practice in Suva, Fiji at the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific, Tavola went on to study Sculpture at Manukau School of Visual Arts and later Arts Management at AUT University.
In 2019, she established an independent gallery and consultancy called Vunilagi Vou which continues to shapeshift in the pandemic climate. Whilst curating is an external, social practice for Tavola, artmaking and painting particularly is Tavola’s internal process of intellectual enquiry and creative meditation.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 – Backbone, Vunilagi Vou, South Auckland
2017 – Dark Meat, Tautai, Auckland
2009 – Blood+Bone, St Kevins Arcade, Auckland
AWARDS
2017 – Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies Artist Residency, University of Canterbury, Christchurch
2015 – Summer Residency, Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, Wellington
2014 – School of Art and Design Postgraduate Research Award, AUT University
2013 – Bachelor of Visual Arts Alumni Award, University of Auckland
2012 – Contemporary Pacific Artist, Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 – Moonwalkerz curated by Nigel Borell, Taste of Pasifika Festival, Auckland
2022 – Volume: Bodies of Knowlege by Community Reading Room curated by Dr Torika Bolatagici, Metro Arts, Queensland, Australia
2021 – Hidden in Plain Sight. From Being Rendered Invisible to Becoming Visible curated by Julia Albrecht and Stephanie Endter, Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt, Germany
2021 – Pussy Fat, Vunilagi Vou, South Auckland
2017 – The Perpetual Flux of Transitional Otherness, Olly, Auckland
2016 – Postcards from Papatoetoe : A Pop-up and pocket exhibition curated by Francis McWhannell, Old Papatoetoe, South Auckland
2011 – diasporadic679, Ōtāhuhu, South Auckland
2010 – FRESH10, Fresh Gallery Ōtara, South Auckland
2010 – 30 Ukulele, Village Arts, Hokianga
2009 – Flower Power, Centro Ricerca Arte Attuale (CRAA), Italy
2009 – Pan Pacific Nation curated by Jaimey Hamilton, The Arts at Marks Garage, Hawaii
2008 – VASU: Pacific Women of Power, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
2008 – Represent, Fresh Gallery Ōtara, South Auckland
2008 – Flat White Black Pearl curated by Jim Vivieaere, Te Karanga Gallery, Auckland
2007 – Longitude curated by Giles Peterson, The Art Studio, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2007 – BUY SPEND SAVE NOW, Fresh Gallery Ōtara, South Auckland
2006 – What’s Going On, Fresh Gallery Ōtara, South Auckland
2006 – This is not a love song curated by Eimi Tamua, Artstation, Auckland
2005 – Destinations… curated by Lonnie Hutchinson, Pitt Street Methodist Church, Auckland
2004 – Five by Three, ArtNet Gallery, South Auckland
2004 – Niu Dialogue curated by Jim Vivieaere, Aotea Centre, Auckland
2001 – ANZ National Art Awards, The Playhouse, Suva, Fiji
2001 – Expressions on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality & Empowerment, AIDS Taskforce, Suva, Fiji
2001 – Red Wave Collective, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji