On Tuesday, June 11, join us on Zoom for a  conversation with Ymelda Rivera Laxton, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Arts and Community Projects at the Whaling Museum, and multi-disciplinary artist and curator Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss (Niuean/Maori) about a Niuean barkcloth in the Whaling Museum collection and Twiss’ journey as a contemporary practitioner of Hiapo.

ABOUT THE FEATURED ARTIST
Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss is a multi-disciplinary artist and curator of Maori and Niuean descent. A contemporary practitioner of the Niuean tradition of barkcloth known as hiapo, she is credited with reviving the 'sleeping artform' which has not been practiced in Niue for several generations.

Her 'samplers' show her skill and draw attention to hiapo's components - white cloth (unlike the tan ground of the cloth prevalent across much of Polynesia) and the decorative elements - delicate botanical drawings and abstract patterns.

Unlike lots of women across the Pacific, Lafaiki Twiss was unable to learn her craft sitting alongside older women and has had to research and teach herself. Her work is very important to the Niuean community and has been exhibited in Australia, Aotearoa, England and Niue. She has already had a sell-out exhibition in New Zealand and her work is in the collections of Te Papa and Auckland Museum. Wickliffe has a Masters in Visual Art and Design from AUT.