A new exhibition confronts the rumblings beneath our lives.
Art by Anare Somumu, Atueta Rabuka, Irami Buli, Susie Elliott, Ulamila Bulamaibau and Lingikoni Vaka’uta, curated by Larry Thomas.
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A new exhibition titled KUDRU opens this month, bringing together six Fijian artists whose works respond to the discontent, unrest, and resilience that shape our world today. Rooted in the iTaukei word kudru, meaning rumblings or grumblings, the exhibition explores the emotional and political tremors that ripple through both local and global landscapes.
“Kudru is a metaphor for discontent,” says curator Larry Thomas. “It speaks to the unhappiness and unrest that many feel—whether in our small, beautiful country or across the globe. These rumblings manifest in violence, in the erosion of freedoms, in the quiet exhaustion of daily life. But they also carry the potential to awaken us.”
The exhibition does not shy away from the “ugliness” we are often forced to confront. Instead, it invites viewers to reflect on it—to walk through it, to question it, and ultimately, to resist being consumed by it. The six artists, through their work, challenge our complacency and call for deeper attention.
“Kudru should shake us,” Thomas continues. “It should unsettle us enough to reflect on what’s happening around us. There’s no single answer, but there is a need to listen—to pay attention to the rumblings, because they affect us all, whether we like it or not.”
KUDRU features works by Anare Somumu, Irami Buli, Atueta Rabuka, Susie Elliott, Lingikoni Vaka’uta, and Ulamila Bulamaibau. Each artist brings a distinct perspective, drawing from cultural memory, personal experience, and collective struggle to illuminate the tensions and possibilities of life in Fiji (and the world) today.
The exhibition will be held at the Fiji Arts Council gallery, St Steven’s Building, Victoria Parade, Suva. It opens to the public on Thursday 2nd October and runs until the 24th of October. Entry is free.
