Artwork Information

'In old Samoa, 'faleaitu' (house of spirits) was theatre performed by men presenting political satire in skits in front of the chiefs. The men of 'faleaitu' were respected as entertainers and simultaneously served as social commentators to the wider community.

It is the ancient practice of 'faleaitu' which led me to create my recent body of work entitled 'Fa'a fafine; in a manner of a woman' 2005, a series of photographic self portraits where I disguise myself to portray a Samoan man, a woman, and a married couple. These works pay homage to my ancestors and to simultaneously subvert the dominant western heterosexual 'normalcy' that continues to conflict with the existence of fa'afafine people today.'

Statement by Yuki Kihara