Talatalaina o le Siapo

TALATALAINA O LE SIAPO

"I am not an individual; I am an integral part of the cosmos. I share divinity with my ancestors, the land, the seas and the skies. I am not an individual, because I share a tofi (inheritance) with my family, my village and my nation. I belong to my family and my family belongs to me. I belong to my village and my village belongs to me. I belong to my nation and my nation belongs to me. This is the essence of my sense of belonging." 

This kaupapa can be captured in these words quoted by his Susuga Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi. The lead up to this project has been a five year journey of reclaiming and reconnecting to the stories that are embedded in siapo making- a practice which has mostly been discontinued within our Samoan community, especially for those of us living overseas. As a result, the knowledge which it holds has been mostly lost or is not easily accessible. Reclaiming our cultural knowledge begins with reclaiming practices like siapo-making, which have always been community driven and led.

THE PROJECT

Talatalaina o le Siapo is about unraveling the stories that are within the patterns of siapo and the process of making. This project aims to offer a different perspective of siapo- an art that is not only beautiful to look at, but one that is very much living and breathing. Over the next nine months, I plan to make siapo-making more accessible to the community through the facilitation of free workshops.

In addition to these workshops, I am preparing for 2025 exhibitions which will showcase several siapo pieces and an audio installation of sounds from the siapo-making process and te taiao. Over the past few years, my primary focus has been on preserving and restoring aged siapo, carving the tools used for making, nurturing connections with local and international makers and cultivating the plants which are used for its production.

ABOUT ME

Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, my lineage connects me to the villages of Si’umu, Vaovai, Sāmusu, Sātupa’itea and Faleū in Sāmoa. I am a multidisciplinary artist and a current resident artist at Corban Estate Arts Centre in Te Uru o Tāmaki Makaurau. In the past, I was also working with rangatahi in the youth justice system, most of whom struggled with identity and belonging within their own communities. This mahi massively contributed to my development as an artist and continues to fuel my passion for cultural preservation and creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.

YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Supporting this kaupapa, whether through the campaign or by sharing through socials will be greatly appreciated and allow me to grow this project with the wider community.

Your contribution will go towards the following:

• Audio production & development
• Community workshops
• Exhibition costs
• Venue hire
• Artist fees
• Materials

Without the support of the community, the lead up to this project couldn’t have been possible. There are no words to express my gratitude for the guidance I have received over the years and I am confident that the support received through this campaign will continue to grow this kaupapa. 

Fa’afetai, fa'afetai, fa'afetai lava.

I le ava ma le fa’aaloalo lava,

Tiliitaua Florence Ulutunu