Strictly Samoan

Written by Eliorah Malifa
Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Strictly Speaking, the work of Greg Semu is representative of a Samoan dichotomy. Strictly Samoan is Semu’s exhibit, currently showing at the Penrith Regional Gallery in Sydney until November 2nd. Truthfully, between the title of the exhibit and the work produced I was confused. It seemed that this exhibition labelled STRICTLY Samoan included a lot of a Samoan culture that has found its place in an Australian backdrop. Therefore how is it, in fact STRICTLY Samoan. Eventually I came to appreciate the finished product, a representation of the Samoan community of Sydney. The focus of Semu’s pieces in the Strictly Samoan exhibit demonstrated how Pacific migration continues with Samoan families today. In the study of Pacific communities, the concept of diaspora is always addressed. The idea that Pacific Island communities all over the world manage to carry their native culture with them, is something we as Samoans have prided ourselves on….forever. This is especially emphasised in Semu’s work. The four small exhibitions shown as part of Strictly Samoan are as follows: Aussie Aiga, Samoa mo Samoa: The Story of the Mau Movement, ‘Ie Toga and Tauvaga Tatau: Tattoo Competition. Aussie Aiga pays tribute to the Samoan passion for large scale family photos. To complete this piece, Semu and exhibit curator Lalau Leo Tanoi, photographed 200 Samoan families living in Sydney, in their domestic and social environments. The idea of Semu’s work in Aussie Aiga is encapsulated in the following words: ‘You can’t take a Samoan out of the picture’. In full, you cannot remove a Samoan person from their history; no matter where they are. This sentiment is echoed in Semu’s other work. ‘Ie Toga and Tauvaga Tatau both of which examine the Samoan traditions of tattooing and fine mats as they are practiced within the Samoan community of Sydney. Where Semu uses the family photos in Aussie Aiga as a metaphor for Samoan culture; he uses tokens of Samoan culture in ‘Ie Toga and Tauvaga Tatau as a physical indicator of its strength here in Sydney. The fourth exhibit of Semu’s work, named Samoa mo Samoa uses photos donated by the Alexander Turnbull library in Wellington to document Samoa’s rise to independence through the Mau movement. As an artist Semu is internationally accomplished, having just completed an artist residency at Musee de Quai in Branly, Paris. As well as producing artwork in France; Semu has worked in Auckland, Sydney, Berlin, London and New York. Semu’s international experience seems to have had a major affect on his perception of the Samoan community at large. Semu’s good work will spread further as the exhibition comes to a close. On November 2nd, the Penrith Regional Gallery is holding a ‘Talanoa’ for young people of Pacific Island descent who would like to become involved in the arts. This will serve as an opportunity for Pacific youth to find avenues into the arts by meeting people and getting advice on how they could find work. It took me an age to get to the Strictly Samoan exhibit. I’m glad I went. Though I was initially bemused by the work, I found that the exhibit is definitely STRICTLY Samoan. It shows how as a people, we carry our ‘Samoan-ness’ with us wherever we go. I encourage anybody in Sydney to make the trip to see Greg Semu’s work. He manages to verbalise the thoughts and values of our Samoan community here in Sydney in still photographs and specimens of traditional Samoana. Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed Life in America written by Sane Mataitusi, October 12, 2008 Congrats Semu - Hopefully your work can make its way to California so we could come and see it. If it's online, that's even better! I'd like to purchase a few artwork. Soifua, Strictly Samoan Exhibitions written by Lalau Leo Tanoi, October 12, 2008 www.strcitlysamoan.com.au www.penrithregionalgallery.org Thank you for your article on Strictly Samoan. Love your work! fa'afetai Lalau Leo Tanoi Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 )

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