Arts

Bulamaibau reflects on our problems with positivity By Samantha Magick In a recent exhibition of many powerful artworks, the contributions of Ulamila Bulamaibau stood out for her delicate balancing of critical commentary and positivity. ‘Kudru’ brought together some of Fiji’s most prominent artists. It’s curator Larry Thomas said the exhibition was “about discontent, and I […]

Breathing life into objects “For some, I think, the rocking vessel venturing forth felt the closest to a mother cradling, though without her soothing voice. For some, I think, this voyage was never a choice but a last resort to continue living, though we quickly learned that death might have been more forgiving.” These opening […]

Imagine a huge pair of hands cradling a bilo (cup) lined with solar panels rising from the grasslands of a Fijian island. Or an enormous circular ring, roofed with solar panels which shade a well-used timber platform carved with abstracted versions of traditional motifs. Those are the visions of the two winning designs in the […]

Fiji’s newest art gallery sits atop the air-conditioned haven of the Jack’s of Fiji complex in downtown Nadi. The Gallery of Fijian Art and Design sets out to celebrate and showcase Fiji’s creative heritage through painting, sculpture, glass work and various other art forms. While everything is for sale, visitors are also welcome to simply […]

Spanning the Spectrum By Ben Wheeler The Fiji Islands is a fertile ground for new movements across the arts sector, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Spectrum collective, a group of musicians, poets, raconteurs, and visual artists who are making waves here and abroad. Their work is characterised by an embrace of […]

By Ben Wheeler Francisco Bhagwan and 4 Quarters, part of Fiji’s New Wave of contemporary music artists, rocked the Gibson Stage at Adelaide’s The Gov on Saturday night, in the opening of their Vesumona Tour. The intimate space was filled with fans new and old who came together to enjoy the sublime blend of R&B, […]

Garments and objects marking the transition of iTaukei women from childhood to puberty are on display in a powerful exhibition at the Fiji Museum. Na Cagi Ni Veisau was centred on liku (fibre skirts), which were traditionally presented to women at different stages of their life journey; puberty, marriage and motherhood and maturity. Na Cagi […]

A recent exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Suva marked the iTaukei new year, and a collaboration between two artists exploring their roots and routes taken. ‘Vulaiwerewere’ opened on June 21, the first day of the indigenous new year. It brought together artists Ropate Kama and Rachael Halstead, who draw/paint and carve respectively, to […]

“I love Fiji, it’s never been out of my heart,” says Jean Bish, the protagonist and heart of the documentary Fiji Memory, Colonial Time, part-way through the film. Jean was born in Lami – just outside Suva – in 1925. A fourth- generation colonial, she had been away from Fiji for 40 years when her […]

A young Nadi-based artist is redefining the boundaries of creativity through stunning sculptures made from discarded everyday items.

A group of remarkable women from Nakera, in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu is weaving its way to national prominence.

By Ben Wheeler There has been palpable excitement on the Fiji filmmaking scene over the past few years, and it reaches a crescendo this weekend as Andrew John Fakaua Ponton’s locally produced BATI opens across the country’s cinemas. That the film exists at all is a testament to patience and perseverance. It was shot in […]

The tide has started to turn as an upcoming filmmaker launches his film, Bati, approaching Pacific issues through a Pasifika lens. Born in Tuvalu, and raised and educated in Suva, Andrew John Fakaua Ponto is about to premiere his movie across the Pacific. Bati is a gripping drama which tells the story of a humble […]

“I think I have a very special story,” says Eni Kumar, as we settle down to chat. “When I look back to how it all started, I think it would be a great story to tell, something to leave behind, for the performers in Fiji, for
my children, and for those who would love to know about singers and how they got started.”

In the heart of Suva, where tradition and modernity often meet, fashion designer Temesia Tuicaumia is on a mission: to help Fijian men rediscover the strength in their roots—and wear it with pride.

The Fiji Museum recently wrapped up an inspiring three-day School Holiday Program that brought together children, artists, and educators under the theme: “Creating with Culture: Pottery, Masi, Theatre.”

Fiji’s national art gallery has taken a major step forward with the official announcement of its name: Na iTukuni National Art Gallery.

By Kite Pareti Fiji finally has a permanent home for the important and diverse paintings and artwork collected by the Fiji Arts Council, and its array of colourful creative art pieces will leave you inspired. Located at the St Stephens Building in Suva, the National Art Gallery of Fiji has been in its new home […]

By Ema Ganivatu A new exhibition featuring artists of vastly different styles, but united by common themes, is currently showing at the Oceania Centre at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus. Ulamila Bulamaibau and Sangeeta Rubine’s works focus on social issues and the strength and resilience of women worldwide. As soon as I […]

By Kite Pareti The Rara Room at the Grand Pacific Hotel buzzes with excitement as families, friends and soon-to-be friends gather for one common purpose – the love for arts and crafts. Hosted at the end of every month, the ‘Art & Sip’ events facilitated by Peter Sipeli, founder of Guided Walking Tours, Suva, attract […]

By Prerna Priyanka At just 16, Navi Fong stumbled into a dance studio in Fiji and unknowingly stepped onto a path that would see him enthral Fijians and people across the globe. Fong is a mesmerising presence on stage, his long hair and tall, strong frame commanding attention. But since his stage debut, he has […]

By Ben Wheeler It’s always refreshing to see something different and original make its way on to the big screen amongst the latest Hollywood and Bollywood big-budget franchise instalments. It was therefore with great joy that amongst the listings for February I spied Sanjane Koneshamoorthy’s Arranged Love arriving in cinemas across the Fiji Islands. This […]

By Ben Wheeler Writer-director Sanjane Koneshamoorthy and director of photography Rah Sharma talk about their Australian-produced film Arranged Love, screening in Fiji this February. “I was a kid sitting in Nehru Primary, daydreaming about becoming an aircraft engineer, even though I struggled in my studies,” Sharma says. “Life took unexpected turns, but when you start […]

By Kite Pareti Local jewellery business ‘A Beautiful Mess’ emerged from the belief that life, creativity, and personal growth often involve a blend of chaos and beauty. “I wanted a name that captures the concept that even in the midst of disorder or challenges or even in a messy journey towards your goal or work, […]