Mini banners are a joy to make: perfectly imperfect, hand-cut, machine-sewn textile assemblages made as quiet prayers, visual intentions and meditations on revolution and freedom.
The Vunilagi Vou online shop is now stocked with a range of mini banners and two slightly larger banners made for Vakamuduo [gratitude overflowing], a small solo exhibition held at Moana Fresh earlier this year.
Presenting an open studio for the recent Kāpiti Coast Art Trail was a great motivation to get back into the making flow. These two new salusalu were inspired by the rainbow and transgender flags that were flying high for Paekākāriki Pride last month.
It was a privilege of have a banner used in the Paekākāriki Pride Parade, held by local legends Sylvia Bagnall and Coral Trimmer and later hung proudly on the stage at the Paekākāriki Pride Party!
Despite missing friends, food and Tongan rugby league supporters, I’ve loved moving Vunilagi Vou to Paekākāriki on the Kāpiti Coast! Deeply different, intimately smaller, closer-knit and culturally poles apart from South Auckland, it is interesting seeing how my work, ideas and thinking fits / sits in Wellington regional spaces.
More updates coming soon… the 2026 World of WearableArt competition was an amazing experience and the 10/10 exhibition that has just closed at Epeli Hau’ofa Gallery at USP Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies was so profound, I haven’t quite found the words yet.
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