Page 52 - IB August 2024

Art Art

Artist Yuki Kihara

Indeed, Kihara’s work reflects the essence of her name. of photographs presented as an outdoor exhibition, each
An interdisciplinary artist of Japanese and Samoan descent of the 12 photographs surrounded by lush tropical foliage
working and living in Samoa over the past 12 years, she takes situated across the premises of the Saletoga Sands Resort &
a research-based approach to challenge the dominant and Spa.
singular historical narratives and their persistence in the CNN describes Kihara’s works as ‘powerful’, the Financial
socio-political climate, while often referencing the language Times calls them ‘meticulously composed and super luscious’,
of cultural traditions in her native land through a wide and the New Zealand Herald deems the ‘Paradise Camp’
range of mediums, including performance, sculpture, video, exhibition as ‘thought-provoking’.
photography, and curatorial practice. Among the many exhibitions Kihara has presented over
We spoke with Kihara about her photographic exhibition – the last two decades is a solo exhibition entitled ‘Living
‘Paradise Camp’, which has come to Samoa after receiving Photographs’ (2008) presented at the Metropolitan Museum of
widespread exposure and acclaim internationally. Art in Manhattan, New York.
The photographic series recasts and ‘upcycles’ select Kihara’s work is included in more than 30 permanent
paintings by French post-impressionist painter Paul collections, including the Museum of Modern Art;
Gauguin (1848 – 1903), inspired by photographs of Samoa. Metropolitan Museum of Art; Los Angeles County Museum of
Additionally, the ‘Paradise Camp’ photographs reclaim Art; British Museum; National Museum of World Cultures,
the colonial narratives of Gaugin’s work by featuring The Netherlands; National Museum of Scotland; Sunpride
Fa’afafine and Fa’atama models—a third and fourth-gender Foundation, Hong Kong; Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of
community unique to Samoan culture—by speaking of their Modern Art; Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan; and Te
experience with climate change as a form of resilience and Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.
empowerment. Kihara is currently curating the touring solo exhibition of
The ‘Paradise Camp’ photo shoot which took place in March artist and scholar, Katerina Teaiwa, entitled ‘Project Banaba’
2020, involved a local cast and crew of close to 100 people, (2017) commissioned by Carriageworks, Sydney.
photographed on locations, including rural villages, churches, Kihara is also co-editor alongside Dan Taulapapa McMullin
plantations and heritage sites in the Aleipata district and of ‘Samoan Queer Lives’ (2018) featuring 14 autobiographical
wider Upolu Island. The exhibition features a powerful suite chapters from Fa’afafine & LGBTIQ+ Samoans based in Samoa,

52 Islands Business, August 2024