THE KOOL KIDS COMPANY

THE ANATOMY OF PARADISE.

2012-02-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

The exhibition involves using the body as both subject and object. Artists address this theme through live performances, moving image, installation and photography. "The exhibition presents a fluid vision of identity, one that is not fixed in the false dualism of minority and majority," says curator Angela Tiatia. The exhibition includes works by Darcelle Apelu, Tanu Gago, Ahilapalapa Rands, Nastashia Simeona, Kalisolaite 'Uhila and Vaimaila Urale.

Join the artists on Saturday 25 February from 1pm to 2pm as they discuss their works and then stay for live art performances between 2pm and 4pm. This exhibition is proudly supported by Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust during the Pasifika Festival 2012 season.

SUN KISSED IN SAMOA

2011-11-20T05:22:00.000-08:00

This is an art work made from footage shot out of a moving car in Samoa. The clips are from a road trip to SAMOANA resort in samoa taken in october of 2011 while on holiday with my beautiful mates Will and Jess. This video is dedicated to them for their awesomeness.

AVANOA O TAMA 2012

2011-11-20T04:39:00.000-08:00

AVANOA O TAMA

A Solo Exhibition By Tanu Gago

Exhibition Description:

Avanoa O Tama is a photographic series that looks at the cultural assignment of gender identity in regard to social and cultural expectation amongst men of Pacific diaspora. Concerned with representation and codes of gender this work explores a spectrum of masculine identity among literal and conceptual cultural spaces. The conceptual spaces refer to the intangible grey areas where gender and sexuality tread an ambiguous line between the typical and the unexpected.

These spaces are often occupied by Fa'afafine and gay Pacific males. In this instance, this space is shared with other heterosexual Polynesian and Melanesian males. As an artist I am interested to see what is exposed about our public perceptions of gender and sexuality when these codes of gender deviate from cultural and social norms. And how this reflects on our own cultural sensibilities and notions of tolerance and understanding.

MAC

2011-09-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

Jerry The Fa'afaine was recently acquired by the Mangere Arts Centre for permanent display.

Jonah, Mone, Izrale

2011-08-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

JERRY THE FA'AFAFINE 2011

2011-05-30T06:20:00.001-07:00

A new work by Tanu Gago for the group exhibition, "Mana Takatapui: Taera Tane" curated by Reuben Friend for City Gallery Wellington (January - March 2011).

MANATAKAPUI TAERA TANE | JERRY THE FA'AFAFINE |

Artist Statement

JERRY THE FA’AFAFINE 2011
Tanu Gago

This work is concerned with the construction of masculine identities among young urban Pacific gay males, exploring notions of visibility, character play, performance, sexuality and gender stereotype.

I’m interested in what happens to the gay Samoan males excluded from the cultural understanding and security of being identified as a Fa'afafine. Are they to remain invisible and continue to manage alternative lives and identities?

The reality is yes. The reality is JERRY THE FA'AFAFINE; a type of urban Pacific gay male, conditioned both culturally and socio-politically to the gender default of western heterosexual norms. While he accepts and conforms to this state of being it contradicts with his desires. From out of which emerges a new identity, a character that is often hyper masculine and overtly sexual, liberating him from his reality and thrusting him into a world of fantasy, fun, and even if only momentary... freedom.

Image 1/4 'IONA' Jerry the Fa'afafine 2010, A1 crystal matte archival.
Image 2/4 'DANIEL' Jerry the Fa'afafine 2010, A1 crystal matte archival.

Image 3/4 'LEO' Jerry the Fa'afafine 2010, A1 crystal matte archival.

Image 4/4 'TANU' Jerry the Fa'afafine 2010, A1 crystal matte archival.

Mana Takatāpui: Taera Tāne
Curated by Reuben Friend.
Deane Gallery / City Gallery Wellington
January - March 2011
Featuring: Fear Brampton, Tanu Gago, Richard Kereopa, Dan Taulapapa McMullin and Hoteera Riri.

Photographs by Ema Tavola + Tanu Gago

CHECK OUT THE EXHIBITION PICS AT
colourmefiji

WALK LIKE A MAN.

2011-05-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

SQUARE EYES

2011-05-30T05:27:00.000-07:00

An evening showcasing Pacific stories, talent and wannabe Peter Jacksons, Square Eyes features video works by recent graduates and current students of Manukau Institute of Technology.
Organiser Leilani Kake says, "when I was young my mum used to say 'You'll get square eyes watching too much TV'... come and watch as much as you want and enjoy a night of fresh film, video art and popcorn."
Highlights of Square Eyes include South Auckland film maker Tanu Gago's You Love My Fresh and Samoa-based film maker Dionne Fonoti's Young, Gifted and Samoan.
Square Eyes is presented by Leilani Kake for the Faculty of Creative Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology.
6PM Z BLOCK 04/06/11
For more information, contact Fresh Gallery Otara. Email: Nicole.Lim@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or phone 09 271 6019.

TATAU + FRESHTV

2011-05-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Tanu Gago inkd tatau tattoo FRESH Episode 11 TVNZ 12 March 2011

SAMOA OUT THE BACK OF OTARA

2011-05-18T07:39:00.000-07:00
These images are of a Samoan youth group from Otara South Auckland engaged in the customary practice of preparing a Samoan UMU (ground oven). Urbanization may be a geographical status but this seems more like Samoa has come to Otara and is thriving beyond industry and state housing. Culture is nurtured as a means of contrast to poor education, high crime statistics and low incomes. These images look and feel like they could originate from anywhere in the Pacific. They show and in some cases define "Community". I felt privileged to have been a participant and grew from being able to access rich experiences that inform my own Samoan + Cultural + Identity. The video footage from this day formed the bases for the documentary component of YOU LOVE MY FRESH 2010.

Photos by Tanu Gago.

Staunch Celebration of South Auckland Samoan Culture

2011-05-18T05:35:00.000-07:00
Review By John Hurrell

Tanu Gago is a Samoan film-maker who here presents a moving image installation of three screens butted together, part of a joint venture between Te Tuhi and Fresh Gallery Otara. The work is a celebration of South Auckland Samoan music and dance - and indirectly food - mixed with a gritty confrontational rhetoric. It’s very political; very polished; very slick. Yet unexpectedly complex as well.

Using the wide screen there are three parts. The first - in black and white - directs a message to mainstream white culture, using yellow block lettering and a graphic tone and rhetorical voice similar to Barbara Kruger.

One section says: I feel redundant of your First World. In your mind we are all blacks. You want my Fresh. You want my labour. The title refers to ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ as a source of cheap manual labour, but also the Exotic Other, a cultural novelty.

The second part (also in black and white) features Samoans working on building construction sites and then preparing food as a community for a feast, with God Defend New Zealand playing in the background. It is a contrast to the distorted perceptions being attacked in the first part, where now family and wider group activities are being shown as a reply. Obviously the soundtrack is intended to be ironic, because of what preceded it, yet not necessarily so. There is an ambivalence, an affection for Aotearoa. The music is lyrically beguiling and draws you to the film from elsewhere in the building
With the third section (in colour) we see a male and female performer dancing in traditional costume on the three screens. (I wondered if the woman was a fa’afafine, as that would complicate the interpretation.) The music is frenetically percussive in mood. Whereas the sound at the beginning was soothing and drifting in contradistinction to the mood of the language, now towards the end it crackles in a snappy, penetrating staccato of loudly beaten drums

However the first section of this film is the most interesting part, and the last too similar to a tourism documentary, a recording that is commercial in feel. The glowering anger at the beginning is refreshing with its elegant graphics, moving letters, manoeuvring syntax and stinging phrases. Yet for all that, it’s probably wasted in an art gallery.

Well maybe ‘wasted’ is too strong - for the Pakuranga audience is surely appreciative - but Gago’s subtly complex project needs to be in public cinemas or on the sides of downtown buildings where it can generate more impact. Where despite its use of aural seduction it can shock and genuinely offend. Where the audience will find it hard to take it in its stride. Where ‘edge’ is genuinely disturbing and not glib marketing - and where the social issues it raises are analysed and talked about in a lively but serious fashion.

John Hurrell
Read more: http://eyecontactsite.com/2010/11/celebrating-south-auckland-samoan-culture#ixzz1Mi5depsE
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial

Two Pacific multi media artists Leilani Lake and Tanu Gago

Multi-media Art - We take a look at the work of two Pacific multi media artists Leilani Lake and Tanu Gago Tagata Pasifika TVNZ 18 Nov 2010

SOLE PROJECT

2010-11-24T20:19:00.000-08:00
The Sole Project: The Exhibition is the culmination of a youth visual arts project delivered by the Nga Rangatahi Toa Creative Arts Initiative of still water rising Trust.

Created to provide transformational life experiences for at-risk youth, the project gives rangatahi (youth) the chance to work with artist-mentors to develop their creative voice and understanding of art as cultural and personal expression.

Sixteen collaborative works produced in the youth-artist partnerships will be exhibited along with a selection of works by the mentors.

THE SOLE PROJECT

2010-11-12T01:08:00.000-08:00
I got the opportunity to collaborate with a young man named Timani Ngungutao form Mangere for a one week one on one mentoring program that saw a South Auckland youth partnered with an artist to create an art work.

Timani's passion for HIPHOP music became the focus as our project titled 'BATTLE STYLE FREE' was a moving image animation of still photographs Timani produced over the week, edited to the an original recording of his own hiphop lyrics to a beat donated my the Otara Music and Arts Centre (OMAC)

These are some of the pictures from the studio recording.

MATAFAGA

2010-11-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

YOU LOVE MY FRESH AT MATAFAGA

Rocked up into Otara with a bundle of YOU LOVE MY FRESH stickers and a Canon camera. Matafaga is a Pacific night club based out these ways. MF for short, it's always off the chain on a Thursday night, so seem a great idea to take some custom FRESH to Freshest spot in town. Islanders go crazy for free shit. Handed out the stickers to punters and they lost their minds... I call it a photo shoot, but really, it's just Samoan's acting a fool!!

This is from the official Matafaga BEBO page. Just to give you some context. Makes me laugh...

"We are a nightclub in South Auckland that strives on giving you an experience that you will never forget. With our friendly staff and our awsome band you will be rocking the night away. You will hear latest RnB & Hip Hop tunes from our DJ's and the latest sounds from the Pacific Islands.

So whatever you may be celebrating this weekend, whether it's a Thursday, Friday or Saturday...come up and we will help give you an experience you will never experience anywhere else."

I SCARE MYSELF // FREE TATTOO PROJECT

2010-09-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Collaborative video project with 2010 TAUTAI artist in residence for anual moving image and live performance showcase; OFFSTAGE 2010. Film by Betty Loo.

YOU LOVE MY FRESH AT TE TUHI 2010

2010-09-06T03:38:00.000-07:00

Pil and Galia Kollectiv will give a public talk at 2pm which will be followed by the opening event

The opening will also launch Bruce Barber: Work 1970 – 2008 in New Zealand, edited by Stephen Cleland and Blair French and published by Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, Manukau City and Artspace Visual Arts Centre, Sydney

Public talks:

YOU LOVE MY FRESH: Construction + Context
Join curator Ema Tavola, artist Tanu Gago and guest speakers in a lively discussion on Gago’s exhibition

Saturday 16 October
2 – 3pm, Construction: Quincy Filiga (Choreographer), Dominic Fryer (Cinematographer), Tanu Gago (Director)
3 – 4pm, Context: Rebecca Ann Hobbs, Leilani Kake, Iosefa Enari

Paul Cullen: Thursday 14 October, 1.30pm
Jim Speers: Thursday 11 November, 1.30pm
Richard Orjis: Thursday 5 November, 1.30pm

Get to the opening for free with the art bus!
Departing from K'rd outside Artspace at 1.30pm
and returning 3pm to K'rd

Y.L.M.F ANIMATION

2010-08-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

YLMF SHOOT PIX

2010-07-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

BLACK N WHITE DIVERSITY

2010-06-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

SUPER HERO COSTUMES

2010-06-25T05:20:00.000-07:00
My sister Julie summed up the process of learning customary Samoan dance with the sentiment “I FEEL LIKE SUCH A WANNA BE SAMOAN”. It’s interesting that in the process of creating the final moving image piece for the visual artwork YOU LOVE MY FRESH we ‘The two from Samoa’ as our Irish / Maori mother refers to us have come face to face with a cultural heritage intrinsically connected to the blood that runs through our veins yet is done so through such an uncoordinated and awkward interface that it seems unfamiliar and almost foreign but stems from our actual lived experiences and reality as Samoans living as kiwi’s in NZ.

This work has been important in being able to identify these dual realities and the moment they clash with one another. What has been awesome and has grounded the work in a physical reality, although sometimes challenging and almost seemingly impossible, has been the first official costume fitting. These pictures have been staged.

If you can notice a hint of awkwardness and discomfort then I can assure you it is there and it is real and not staged. But if there is no reading between the lines then these images may very well appear as what they are, ‘Samoans in costumes’. Tomorrow begins the first dress rehearsal for the performance WHERE IS YOUR GRATITUDE. I look forward to seeing what else will come of this very FRESH learning experience.

REVERSE RESISTANCE

2010-04-12T05:31:00.001-07:00

ASB POLYFEST 2010

2010-03-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

2010 POLYFEST (Benga Filiga, Otahuhu College Samoan Group Practice 18/03/10 orginal image by Tanu Gago)

For the past nine years OTAHUHU COLLEGE have been competing on the Samoan stage at the annual ASB POLYFEST; A festival that promotes and encourages pacific culture within New Zealand, in a four day competitive showcase of secondary school performances of traditional cultural music and dance. 2010 marks the 35th year this festival has been running, during which Otahuhu college Samoan group have been locked in a nine year rivalry with AVONDALE COLLEGE, a school that has won 1st place over all on the Samoan stage for nine consecutive years leaving Otahuhu College to take out second place.

Avondale College takes 9th Polyfest title - National - Video - 3 News
So I had the opportunity to document parts of otahuhu colleges samoan group and their preparations for the 2010 polyfest. This group of kids are KOOLKIDS for real!!. The trade off was, I get to have a Samoan experience and in the process get to make some art with some seriously talented kids. What I gift back to them is the chance to see their work at its final stages and interpreted for a broader audience.

I had a mean time getting to be part of their build up to the final face off with Avondale college. Met some KOOL people. Like this guy, one of the main performance tutors for the Samoan group and who devised a lot of the choreography. (Quincie Ray Filiga)
2010 POLYFET (Benga and Quincie Filiga, Otahuhu College, Samoan Group, Practice, 18/03/10 original image by Tanu Gago)

This footage is recorded from a cellphone. The clip was posted on youtube by willisMad4jesus
the footage from the final practice will be posted later on in april, for anyone who is keen to see it.

THE MANUKAU PROJECT

2010-03-09T18:42:00.000-08:00

I just wanna keep a record of visual refferences to put in my future doco about my home town before it all goes to supercity shit. Check out the white crackdown of black crime in Manukau.THE MANUKAU PROJECT

2010-03-09T02:41:00.000-08:00

BETTER MEALS FOR THE SPIRIT

2010-03-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

Get up earlier than usual, take 5 to 10 or maybe 15 minutes to write some shit. A wise woman told me this is the best way to rid your brain of farts, the nasty negative kind. So here I go. This is going to hurt, are you ready?

PROCRASTINATION ---->> "TO DRAG ONES ASS IN SUCH A PATHETIC MANNER TO ENSURE ONES PLACE IN LIFE AS A LOSER" (Bobby Long)

If it's your only achievement for the day then yes, washing the dishes is procrastination. Who the fuck are you? Ms Samoa the fafafine? Smoking, if it is the conduit that encourages thinking about shit you can do, without actually doing anything then yes, it too is procrastination. Just because you like that song, puting it on repeat on i'tunes doesn't mean you have to spend each round making sure you hear it for 50th time in its entirety. Preoccupied with sexing pretty boys and Not-so-pretty boys, sweaty, hairy back boys is just straight up 'FUCKIN AROUND'. Whatever it is you think you achieve is too momentary, so fleeting and unsustainable that yes, it is as you feared, Procrastination. You need beter fuels, you need better meals for your fucken spirit, so put your shoes on and go find that shit!!!!

Some music to drive too while you're out saving the world from the old you hehe

PAINT WITH BASTARD TECHNOLOGY

2010-03-07T22:58:00.000-08:00

I love strong visuals. This is my film training; cinema allows you to create ideologies by sequencing visual narratives. My thing is TEXT, interactive text, static text, any kind of engaging text that enhances the visuals they appear on with a statement or punctuation. I like black and white images that are grainy and high in contrast with bold defined shadows. My thing is this idea of photographing a world, a moment, an aspect of life that is grey and ambiguous, that is vague and uncertain, where the lines are not clearly defined and applying black and white logic and thinking to it. lastly, I love subverting and manipulating these images with bastard software like “Microsoft Paint”. It’s such a poor man’s photoshop, in which case means, to smash your face with strong visuals you have to be imaginative and are forced to be creative. Bastarad mediums are almost always driven by the KOOL KIDS,The results can be funny.

FUK IT THROUGH THE SPEAKER. (I took this image during a night out in Auckland City at the premium shit bag Gay Joint on K RD "FAMILY BAR" this dudes E was clearly comming on and he was auditioning his hole)

MONEY NAMES

2010-03-07T02:07:00.000-08:00

It’s a good idea (or so I’m told) to conduct my web presence in a professional manner. Whatever that means or looks like I’m thinking it’s supposed to make people see me in a way that isn’t compromising or detrimental to my career or my social life.
(Fuck off) This implies too much. The obvious being that I actually have a career and the second being that I care what is thought of me socially.

JERRY THE FA FA FINE

2010-03-05T04:27:00.001-08:00

I KEEP FINDING MYSELF IDENTIFYING WITH "JERRY THE FA FA FINE". Jerry is a character in an original poem written by Dan Taulapapa McMullin. Jerry is one of those faggots from American Samoa who performs the Fei au's around the house. He's a samoan Desperate House Wife. He has a pet eel.. see for yourself A DRAG QUEEN NAMED PIPI.

JERRY'S FRIENDS ARE PIPI THE DRAG QUEEN AND SINALELA....

YOU LOVE MY FRESH.. 2010

2010-03-05T03:11:00.000-08:00

So maybe I'm just cynical by nature and as a minoirty I just like to have a bitch and a moan about my view from the cheap seats. I'm OK with being that guy. In fact It makes me want to make work as an artist because in actual reality, the last time I checked I AM A FUCKING MINORITY and it makes me cynical.

If that makes me a winning little BITCH then don't even bother with this post. Because although you love my FRESH you will never have it and this is the only thing that stops kool kids from being cynical in NZ

FILM SCHOOL #1

2010-03-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

I want to work on a cinematic scale. I
want to put myself in the work, I want to
put my culture in the work, my Samoan
culture, my "suck cock" culture!!!

SAMOA IS IN THE TV

2010-03-04T05:38:00.001-08:00

A Pecha Kucha night is an event format in which
presenters show a slideshow of 20 images, each
of which is shown for 20 seconds — giving a total
presentation time of 6 minutes 40 seconds.
Each event usually has 8 - 14 presenters.
Presenters (and much of the audience) are
usually from the design, architecture,
photography, art and creative fields.

SAMOA IS IN THE TV is my Pecha Kucha
presentation as partof the Manukau Festival of Arts
2009. This event was also coverd by 95 Bfm radio
LISTEN and you ca hear that shit.

BLACK AND WHITE #1

2010-03-04T05:30:00.000-08:00