Shigeyuka Kihara at The Kete Aronui Experience
Shigiyuki Kihara is a visual and performance artist of Samoan & Japanese decent. Kihara’s work is based on an investigative research relating to the Moana/Pacific, and more specifically to Samoan culture, history and spirituality pointing to how its values and principles can be applied to her urban environment in Auckland, New Zealand where she currently resides.
Kihara’s conceptual work is popularly perceived by many as offering a unique perspective on the universe from a Samoan and a Fa’a fafine world view - for Kihara herself is a Fa’a fafine - meaning an anatomically born male living as a woman, closely translated as ‘third gender’ in the western interpretation.
Her recent body of work entitled ‘Fa’a fafine; In a manner of a woman’ series 2005 was first exhibited in March 05 as a solo exhibition at both the Sherman Galleries in Sydney and Artspace in Auckland. Selected works from the ‘Fa’a fafine’ series 2005 is currently included in the international touring exhibition entitled ‘Asia Traffic’ curated by the Asia Australia Arts Centre Sydney, touring venues including; Today Art Museum in Beijing and Zendai Museum of Modern Art in Shanghai.
Kihara is a recipient of the Creative New Zealand Arts Council Emerging Pacific Artist Award in 2003.
Social bookmarking
Member Profile
Kete AronuiKETE ARONUI
From music, carvers, performers, weavers, painters, sculptors, filmmakers, theatre and multimedia, KETE ARONUI is at the heart of indigenous art. A series of 1/2 hour programmes featuring on Maori Television, KETE ARONUI will also have a major presence at Atamira | Maori in the city, as the ‘Kete Aronui Experience’.
This distinctive exhibition will feature the works of some of Aotearoa's most relevant, rising and recognized contemporary Artists. An inspiring collective that combined embodies a vibrant, powerful and thought-provoking sense of awe, passion, culture and identity. At the same time offering an insight into what Maori art looks and feels like in the 21st century while capturing an essence of where Aotearoa art is heading in the future.
‘The Kete Aronui Experience’ is proud to be showcasing a significant group of artists that represent a variation of styles, mediums and forms. Illustrious Painters Rueben Paterson, Sofia Minson, Jamie Boynton, Peata Larkin, Jon Tootill, Darryn George and Nigel Borell will be exhibiting. Alongside Diva Jeweler and fiber artist Suzanne Tamaki and Wendy Whitehead; Pop Art Toy maker, Leon Kipa; The internationally renowned photographer Russ Flatt; The creative handiwork that is Rona Osbourne and boundary pushing multimedia artists Shona Rapira Davies and Diane Prince, and many more are to be confirmed.
We will also showcase the dynamic multimedia performance artist Shigeyuki Kihara, who is best known for her photography series Fa’afafine; In a Manner of a Woman, which we are delighted to be exhibiting. These works have been brought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington.
For the first time ‘The Kete Aronui Experience’ will feature a must see collaboration between stencil artist FLOX and artist Tipene Ryan Smith as they merge their creative talents together to create the beautiful waharoa for both the entry and exit of the space. During the three-day event Mouth Painter and complete C4 tetraplegic Wayne Te Rangi will carry out a live demonstration that will no doubt inspire our audience, and at the end of the three days we will auction his work off and the proceeds will go to the MFPA (Mouth and Foot Painting Association).
‘The Kete Aronui Experience’ is situated in the heart of pavilion three. It is created by Maori and tailor made for a Maori audience. The space will be open from 10 – 4pm Friday the 3rd – Sunday the 5th of July.
