Pacific circle

Joana Monolagi used iron-on fabric with a calico backing to make Pacific Circle. The motifs were painted with black textile paint using a stencilling technique called kesakesa. Despite the use of entirely new materials, Pacific Circle is made to look exactly like a masi (Fijian barkcloth) which is made from the inner bark of paper mulberry.

Monolagi uses designs which can be seen on other masi and the same colour palette of black and brown. The motifs were selected both to represent Monolagi’s Fijian culture and heritage, and to symbolise us as Pacific people. The artist has been printing masi and iron-on fabric for over 20 years, but this is her first circular work. Printing on masi and iron-on fabric is something that Monolagi enjoys and finds fulfilling: ‘It’s not to make a living; it’s for the love of it. This is who I am – it’s in me.’

Joana Monolagi used iron-on fabric backed with calico to make Pacific Circle. She painted the motifs with black textile paint and used the stencilling technique known as kesakesa. Despite the use of wholly new materials, Pacific Circle is made to look exactly like the masi (Fijian barkcloth) made from the inner bark of paper mulberry (Broussonetia Papyrifera).

Monolagi utilises designs seen on other masi with an identical colour palette of black and brown. The motifs were selected both to represent Monolagi’s Fijian culture and heritage, and to symbolise us as Pacific people. The artist has been printing masi and using iron-on fabric for more than 25 years, but this is her first circular work. Printing is something that Monolagi enjoys and finds fulfilling: ‘It’s not to make a living; it’s for the love of it. This is who I am – it’s in me.’

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