14 Nights On The Matua

A solo show by Naomi Faifai

Opening night from 5pm-7pm, 18^th Nov, 2022

Show runs 19^th Nov – 5 Dec, 2022

Meet the Artist: Saturday 19 November, 10am - 2pm

 We warmly invite you to join us for the opening of 14 Nights On The Matua, a solo show by emerging artist Naomi Faifai.

 Marlborough-based emerging artist Naomi Faifai will be presenting her first solo at our Herne Bay gallery, opening 18 November. All works shown are new, with exclusive representation at The Frame Workshop & Gallery nationwide.

Naomi is self-taught, having grown up with art in her home with her own mother a practising artist.

Drawing on her Samoan/Māori (Rāngitane o Wairau) heritage she explores personal cultural influences such as Siapo (tapa cloth), as well as the everyday rituals of life. Cars, flowers, dogs and houses are recurring motifs in her work, brought to life in signature bright and bold colours. 

The exhibition, 14 Nights On The Matua, is inspired by her grandfather's immigration to New Zealand, which took 14 nights on a banana boat named the Matua. His journey from Upolu, Samoa (Savaia, Lefaga Village) to landing in Auckland in 1959 is examined in this latest series of works.

Naomi will be at the opening of the show and in addition to the exhibition, there will be a ‘meet the artist’ event on Saturday 19 November from 10am-2pm. 

Works in progress in Naomi's Marlborough based studio.

Naomi explores aspects of her Samoan/Maori heritage interspersed with motifs that depict everyday life.