Saturday 19 October, 2019, 10 – 11:15am
Pricing: Free entry
Location: Hawke Building – Bradley Forum, Level 5. Click Here for a MAP
Presenter: Ema Tavola
Ema Tavola:
Is The Gallery Enough?
New Zealand-based independent artist and curator Ema Tavola unpacked power and privilege in the South Pacific through the lens of the art world.
With the unbalanced power dynamic of the arts ecology ever-visible, and the experiences of art world Othering becoming increasingly clear, Tavola argues that moves to diversify arts programming are too often tokenistic and rarely representative of systemic change. Instead, confronting disturbing truths and creating space for uncomfortable conversations is a necessary part of challenging the value system and institutionalisation of arts and culture in the colonised South Pacific.
By considering the complex anthropology of race, class, intellectualism and privilege that is embedded within gallery walls, Tavola reflected on 15 years of practice-based research to discuss how enabling the genuine presence of Pacific art, artists and audiences in institutions is not a radical act, but rather a conscious decolonisation of the Gallery and its potential.
Perspectives: shaping the world through visual culture.
Ema Tavola
Ema Tavola is an independent artist-curator based in South Auckland, New Zealand. Having established her practice whilst managing Fresh Gallery Ōtara, a local government funded community art gallery, Tavola’s curatorial concerns are grounded in the opportunities of contemporary art to engage grassroots audiences, shift representational politics and archive the Pacific diaspora experience. Tavola has worked in galleries and museums throughout New Zealand and is committed to curating as a mechanism for social inclusion, centralising Pacific ways of seeing, and exhibition making as a mode of decolonisation.
Recent projects include, A Maternal Lens (2018) for the fourth International Biennial of Casablanca (Morocco), Kaitani (2017) for The Physics Room (New Zealand), Dravuni: Sivia yani na Vunilagi – Beyond the Horizon (2016/2018) for the New Zealand Maritime Museum and Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific (Fiji).
PIMPI KNOWS – Ema Tavola Blog posts
Video: Artwork by Ema Tavola
YouTube Channel
Perspectives: shaping the world through visual culture.
This event is presented as part of Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
Photographs and/or video may be taken at this event.
By taking part in this event you grant the event organisers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the group’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications.
If you do not wish to be photographed please inform the photographer or a Guildhouse staff member.
Images (L-R): Ema Tavola. Image courtesy the speaker.
News
INFORM: The Boring Bits – Tips For Managing Resources from an Artist, Designer and Secret Admin Nerd 2025
Image: Stavroula Adameitis, photograph Morgan Sette.The Boring Bits – Tips For Managing Resources from an Artist, Designer and Secret Admin Nerd Tuesday 9 September 20251 — 3pm Pricing: $5 for Guildhouse members (Accredited/Community/Student) or $45 for non members...
Kyoko Hashimoto: Eight Million Deities (Yaoyorozu no Kami)
Kyoko Hashimoto: Eight Million Deities (Yaoyorozu no Kami) Art Gallery of South Australia 22 August – 2 November 2025 Curated by Maria Zagala, Curator Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Art Gallery of South Australia Exhibition launch: 5 September 2025,...
Funded Campaign – ILA Major Artist Commission
ILA, image supplied.ILA is commissioning a landmark, site-specific artwork to transform the entrance foyer and stairwell of its building. This major public artwork will serve as a bold gateway into ILA’s immersive environments and become a lasting cultural statement...