Si‘oto‘ofa (My sincere love)

In acknowledgement of the 2018 theme for Tongan Language Week, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki would like to be of service to our Tongan community, by enriching Aotearoa with a selection of works from our collection. The works have been selected by independent curator and author Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai are based on the Indigenous Tongan understanding of arts, which is divided into three genres: 'nimamea’a'  or fine arts, 'tufunga' or material arts and 'faiva' or performance arts. 

‘Ofa atu (With sincere love)

Nimamea‘a

The following two artworks illustrate one of the most well known of the Tongan fine arts – Nimamea’a koka’anga (barkcloth making).

Tufunga

Faiva

The first two artworks show faiva ta‘anga, faiva hiva, faiva haka and faiva tukipitu or the performance arts of poetry, song, dance and bamboo stamping-tube playing.