Pacific Frequencies

Exhibition opening: Sunday 09 July

‘Pacific Frequencies’ is an interactive audio-visual exhibition that uses the concept of radio and sonic storytelling to explore the human experience, particularly the Urban, Polynesian, and Indigenous experience in Tāmaki Makaurau.

‘Mahu’ is a channel of Pacific Frequencies that explores grieving and healing from what one perceives as ‘home’. One might consider home the brick bones of a dwelling place, in this case, home can be identified as a place, person or structure. You may look at Mahu as if it were a station on the radio you have tuned into. And with each segment, you begin to understand the stories and experiences of grief, and offering what it looks like to heal, in all its non-linear, nostalgic, and sonic forms.  

Pacific Frequencies: Mahu, is a collaborative project that connects the stories of home between the generations of East and South Auckland communities. Four storytellers with Māori/Polynesian whakapapa record a spoken word or oral retelling to build a world of related sounds, noise, and frequencies with members of production collective BRŌWNALFĀ.

Production collective:

BRŌWNALFĀ

An all-Wāhine film production collective that focuses on story sovereignty and aims to elevate and support the works of upcoming Brown artists.

Trina Lealavaa-Ama | Nofoali’I | Leulumoega | Mata ‘utu Tai.

Founder of BRŌWNALFĀ. Proud Samoan and South Auckland born and raised filmmaker. With her Master of Creative practices, majoring in editing and directing, her work has gone on to screen at many national and international film festivals. Such as, NZ international film festival, Pacifica Film Fest, Rochefort Pacifique Film Festival. She has also been featured in Cairns Art Gallery’s ‘Ritual – the past in the present’ exhibition (2021). Trina is our co-director, lead editor and storyteller for this project.

Roimata Prendergast | Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Tara | Mauke, Kimianagatau | Ra’iatea.

Roimata is a proud Māori, Kuki Airani and Tahitian artist born and raised in Māngere and now residing in Flatbush, East Auckland. Is member to South Auckland Poets Collective and BRŌWNALFĀ. Has participated as both a winner and mentor for the inter Highschool Spoken word competition Word the front line. She has participated as a performer and co-writer in many events, both within Aotearoa and internationally. Roimata is our Producer, co-editor, and storyteller for this project.

Sally Ama | Nofoali’I | Leulumoega | Mata ‘utu Tai.

Sally is Samoan and Māngere, South Auckland born and raised community navigator and artist. Member of BRŌWNALFĀ and developed many Behind the scenes and promotional material.  Completing her final years at Unitec in Architecture and design, she is also a self-made Tattoo Artist. Sally will be our Set designer/coordinator, co-editor, and storyteller for this project.

This project will travel between two locations and can be viewed at:

Howick Historical Village: 08 July to 05 August *Entry fee will occur

Highland Park Library: 07 August to 04 September

In collaboration with Howick Historical Village and produced by BRŌWNALFĀ Production company

This was an Arts Out East project supported by Te Tuhi and Howick Local Board