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Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific (13/11/2015)

In the last 6 months, project members at the Sainsbury Research Unit (University of East Anglia) have been very busy planning our upcoming exhibition Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific. Showing at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the exhibition is curated by Professor Steven Hooper and co-curated by Karen Jacobs and Katrina Igglesden. It focuses mainly on Fijian art and life in the 19th century and uses Fijian material held in exhibition partner the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology's (University of Cambridge) strong and impressive collection, other British and German museum collections, as well as a significant loan from the Fiji Museum. Contemporary aspects of Fijian art and culture will also be included in the displays through photos, video and commissioned pieces.

A book of the same name, authored by Professor Steven Hooper, is concurrently being worked on and will be published to coincide with the opening of the exhibition in March 2016. An exciting endeavour, this book will become the most recent and comprehensive art history of Fiji, and it is a joint publishing venture between the University of East Anglia and the Fiji Museum.

Although we have not been updating the website, the project facebook page has been active and interactive - below are some photos from the past few months.

Joji and canoe in Suva Harbour

The specially commissioned 26-foot Fijian sailing canoe which will be featured in the exhibition. Here she is shown in August 2015 with 2 of her makers Joji Marau Misaele (top) and Domo (left). The right hand photo shows Domo's son Tevita learning how to sail (photos: Steven Hooper).

Project members during various meetings convened at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the venue for the exhibition. In the top photo, His Excellency Mr Solo Mara came for a visit, while below, Mrs Jane West of Tourism Fiji was toured through the venue (photos: Fijian Art Research Project).

Photography for the book has begun and flat plans are being worked towards with our wonderful designer (photos: Katrina Igglesden and Steven Hooper).

 

Tapa Exhibition Opens at the British Museum (15/4/2015)

Last month, project members attended a reception at the British Museum in acknowledgement of their new exhibition Shifting Patterns: Pacific Barkcloth Clothing. A partner museum of the project, it was exciting to visit the exhibition and meet with all of those associated with it. Many thanks are given to Curator Natasha McKinney for inviting us to this wonderful event. The exhibition will be on display until 6 December 2015; more information on public events and talks can be found on the museum's website.

Natasha McKinney (left) and Katrina Igglesden (second from right) with High Commissioners at the exhibition opening

Fijian masi on display at the British Museum

Fijian masi on display at the British Museum

Top photo: Natasha McKinney (Curator), Her Excellency Ms Winnie Kiap (PNG High Commissioner), His Excellency Mr Solo Mara (Fiji High Commissioner), Katrina Igglesden (Fijian Art Research Project) and His Excellency Mr Sione Sonata Tupou (Tonga High Commissioner) (photo: British Museum).

Middle and bottom photo: Fijian masi on display in the British Museum (photo: Katrina Igglesden).

 

 

 

 

 

Site designed by Katrina Talei Igglesden, Jeremy Bartholomew, Karen Jacobs and Steven Hooper at the Sainsbury Research Unit