Studio Kiin: Collective Literary works

Ni sa bula vinaka, Malo ni, Malo e lelei ma Malo te mauli 

With the support of Boosted x Moana, Studio Kiin will produce three new and different literary works under Studio Kiin’s press arm by three members of our collective:

• Kalo Kalo - published book of poetry and audiobook by Arieta Rika 
• Senikau ni Viti - three part illustrative poster series of flowers and plants endemic to Fiji by Elsie Andrewes
• Talanoa Mada - a card deck for storytellers who get stuck in the devising process by Emele Ugavule 

There is nothing like having something in your hands, a delicious book of poetry on your bookshelf that you can read in your fav sunny spot in your garden with some tea. Or a card deck in your bag, that give you that little bit of creative guidance you needed on a rainy day. How about that feeling you get when you walk into your house and see a colorful illustration of flowers on your wall that is so vivid you can almost smell them? 

Transporting you straight to the islands, reminding you of how beautiful and bright it is, warm yet unforgiving, joyful but not for the faint hearted - we are calling out to people who love to read, to converse, to learn, to exchange, to plant, to harvest, to share story and to make story.

WHO WE ARE

Studio Kiin is an Indigenous-led creative studio and collective. We are a family of storytellers who are working to normalise story sovereignty, cultivate kinship and prioritise healing in creative practice. We work to empower people to tell their story their way and on their terms.

Lead storytellers

Writers: Arieta Rika, Emele Ugavule
Illustrator and graphic designer: Elsie Andrewes
Translators: Arieta Rika, Bose Dakai 
Agricultural advisor: Bose Dakai
Producer and Editor: Emele Ugavule 

Arieta Rika is a Fijian and Tongan woman, born and living in Dharug Country, Western Sydney. As a storyteller, Arieta specialises in writing and producing Pacific stories, particularly for digital channels such as virtual reality, applications, web, social media, and podcasts. In 2015, Arieta foundedTalanoa, an independent digital storytelling platform for Oceanic people. Since then, Arieta has written for projects across the Pacific, particularly in Fiji including a virtual reality climate change film, a world-first education program for Fijian children. Arieta currently leads Governance and Communication at the NSW Department of Education’s Before and After School Care team.

Elsie Andrewes is a Fiji born illustrator and part time florist based in Whāngārei, Aotearoa / New Zealand. Elsie’s works span across traditional and digital media, covering portraiture, botanical illustrations and surrealist concepts with inspiration stemming from her heritage. Most pieces are completed with and for the Pacific people in mind, utilising vibrant colours and traditional design.  She has been commissioned by the World Bank, Huia Publishers, Propel Youth Arts WA, WAYTCO, RTR FM, Talanoa, and Witness Performance.

Emele Ugavule is a Tokelauan Fijian storyteller. Her research and practice area of interest is Oceanic Indigenous-led storytelling, working across live performance, screen & digital media as a writer, director, creative producer, performer, educator and mentor. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, she has worked with various artists and organisations across Australia and the Pacific including Warner Music, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Arts House, Urban Theatre Projects, Sydney Opera House, Netflix ANZ & Mad Ones Films, Culture Factory, Playwriting Australia, Mangere Arts Centre, Monkey Baa Theatre Co, La Boite Theatre Co, Belvoir St, Sydney Theatre Co, Arts Centre Melbourne, Art Gallery of NSW, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies. She is also the host of the Unravel & Solwata Kin podcasts and creative director of Talanoa. Emele has tutored at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the National Institute of Dramatic Arts and currently she is a senior tutor at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School (Acting).

Bose Dakai is a farmer from Drekeniwai, Vanua Levu, Fiji. He loves to plant anything that he can.

HOW THIS OPPOURTUNITY WILL CREATE CHANGE

• Empowers and resources three iTaukei women to independently develop, publish and distribute our own literature for our communities from beginning to end
• Connects us to the incredible legacy of Oceanic poets, illustrators and theatremakers working in literature that have come before us
• Ensures accessibility by allowing the collective to meet in Te Whanganui-a-Tara to print and bind Kalo Kalo by Arieta Rika in collaboration with 5ever Press as well as to record an audio book.
• Spread knowledge about Indigenous plant life in Fiji for diaspora in an imaginative way by bringing to life Senikau ni Viti by Elsie Andrewes with the support of Arieta Rika and Bose Dakai as translators and agricultural advisors. 
• Assist theatremakers and storytellers who are experiencing creative, ethics or protocols blocks by using the Talanoa Mada card deck by Emele Ugavule
• Diversify distribution by donating free copies of our literature to community literature initiatives in Oceania such as Community Reading Room, Blackfulla Book Club, Pikinini Readers, Vunilagi Book Club, Vanuatu Feminist Library, as well our local, state and national libraries and archives across Te Tai Tokerau, Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai and Dharug Ngurra and including the National Trove of Australia, National Archives of Fiji, National Archives of Tonga, National Archives of NZ, Alexander Turnball Library

All donations are collected through the The Arts Foundation and are tax deductible. Boosted is an all-or-nothing platform, so every donation (big or small) and share of our campaign goes a long way.

Vina'a va'a levu, Malo ‘aupito, Fakafetai lahi lele kei Malo sii ofa,

Studio Kiin