AAF: Pacific Sisters: He Toa Tāera - Fashion Activists

A collective of Pacific and Māori fashion designers, artists, and performers, the Pacific Sisters electrified 1990s Auckland, bringing the ground-breaking style of an urban, New Zealand–born Pacific generation to the mainstream.

Through pioneering, daring shows, the Pacific Sisters overturned stereotypes about Pacific culture, ‘dusky maiden’ beauty and sexuality. A major retrospective, Pacific Sisters: He Toa Tāera | Fashion Activists showcases the collective’s innovative costumes and performances, which began as street style before expanding into multimedia experiences in venues from art galleries to night clubs.

Pacific Sisters is a collective including:
- Lisa Reihana, Ngāpuhi/Aotearoa
- Rosanna Raymond, Hāmoa/Aotearoa
- Ani O'Neill, Aotearoa/Kuki Airini
- Suzanne Tamaki, Aotearoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto
- Selina Haami, Hāmoa/Aotearoa
- Niwhai Tupaea, Ngāti Katoa, Aotearoa
- Henzart @ Henry Ah-Foo Taripo, Aotearoa/Kuki Airini
- Feeonaa Wall, Aotearoa/Hāmoa/Wīreni/Tiamani
- Jaunnie ‘Ilolahia, Tonga/Aotearoa

“Pacific Sisters’ fashion is activism... because fashion offered a way to combat stereotypes.” — Ioana Gordon-Smith, The Pantograph Punch

Access events:
- Audio described tour of the exhibition with Auckland Art Gallery’s Senior Curator, NZ and Pacific Art, Ron Brownson and Nicola Owen from Audio Described Aotearoa

Sunday 3 March 10.30AM - Free - RSVP to access@aaf.co.nz

- NZSL Exhibition Tour with Auckland Art Gallery’s Senior Curator, NZ and Pacific Art, Ron Brownson

Sunday 3 March 1.00PM - Free - RSVP to access@aaf.co.nz

Developed and toured by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Images:
Kaitiaki with a K; Tāulaolevai: Keeper of the Water (Tuna) (cloak) 2017, New Zealand by Pacific Sisters. Installation view. Pacific Sisters: Fashion Activists, 2018, Toi Art, Te Papa. Photograph by Kate Whitely.

21st Sentry Cyber Sister 1997, New Zealand by Pacific Sisters, Ani O’Neill, Niwhai Tupaea, Rosanna Raymond, Suzanne Tamaki, Te Papa (FE011080) and Leai se Fefe (Costume to offset the Acid thought of Doubt) 2016 by Feeonaa Wall. Installation view. Pacific Sisters: Fashion Activists, 2018, Toi Art, Te Papa.