No matter the mood, a Dunedin Samoan artist hopes her latest exhibition will remind viewers they are not alone.
Mixed media artist Ana Teofilo’s exhibition “Frangi-Galooorre” is on over the coming week as part of this year’s Dunedin Fringe Festival
The work features 35 different coloured frangipani-inspired discs, each cut out from MDF board before being carved and painted by hand, which explore the interconnectedness of our universal spectrum of emotions.
Each disc represents a unique moment or feeling.
They were a reminder that, no matter the differences in people’s lives, we all shared a common thread of emotions, she said.
“When you’re looking at it, no matter where you are, in terms of whatever mood you might be feeling, in terms of the colours that you might be attracted to or drawn to — there’s always a support person or someone there.”
It was quite hard to find other creatives of a Pasifika background in Dunedin, Ms Teofilo said.
“I’m just doing what I love doing and just putting what I can up there, to showcase and have a stand for Pacific art.
“I think it’s just a confidence boost, is what is needed to kind of be proud of what you do and just putting it up there for other people to enjoy it.”
The New Zealand-born contemporary Pacific mixed media artist said she had been creating this type of artwork for more than 12 years.
Measuring 20cm by 20cm each, it took her “a good month” to make all the discs.
In the past she had also made discs of up to 1 metre in diameter.
The festival was a platform for her to create work she would not usually put in a gallery, and gave her the freedom to “just do something bright and colourful,” she said.
“It’s just the time to kind of let loose and just have fun with everything that they put out.”
The exhibition is at The Kensington Sports Bar & Tavern until next Sunday.
tim.scott@odt.co.nz
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