CNZ Arts Awards 2024: Celebrating our Pacific Artists
The power of the pen, the camera lens, dance, visual arts and our beautiful vocal talents all celebrated in one giant night of the Pasifika Arts Awards 2024!
Recipient of the Emerging Pacific Artists Award, Sione Tuilailala Monū is an example of an artist working at the junctions of identity and artforms. They explore Pasifika queer experience across multiple disciplines.
The young artist has become known for their signature ‘Cloud’ forms and their popular kahoa workshops with community groups, as well as his installation and visual arts works. When asked what they were most proud of across all their many art works they affectionately stated;
“I’m really proud of the connections I’ve made, the magical people I’ve gotten to know on this journey….all the artists that I still know and we’re still scheming and dreaming for the future.”
In a poignant twist to the awards ceremony this year - legendary opera singer the late Iosefa Enari has his arts legacy live on with his son visual artist Falefatu Carreras-Enari winning the Pasifika Toa Award alongside musician Max Stowers.
“I’m proud of my Art Work…my dad inspires me. He taught me Opera Songs, Teaching & Lessons!”
“I’m a proud Samoan who loves to paint”
Renowned for her written words that have been transformed into performance in the shows ‘Wild Dogs Under My Skirt’ and ‘Savage Coloniser’, Tusiata’s work has resonated with audiences across Aotearoa and around the globe.
Her play ‘Savage Coloniser’ is currently being performed in South Korea, after its showing across cities in Aotearoa, following on the heels of the publication of the book of poems that won the Poetry Award at the Ockham NZ Book Awards in 2021.
Lastnight Tusiata Avia was honoured as the CNZ Senior Artist of the Year, MNZM
“I think it was 20 years ago I won the emerging award so It's really nice to have those two…from emerging to senior and 20 years in between. It’s lovely to get that recognition particularly when it’s been a rough couple of years politically”
“We’re moving into a really right wing, racist time so even though I haven’t enjoyed being here in parliament, it’s good that we make our presence known. I think it’s good for us as Pacific artists and it’s good for other Pacific Artists to see we’re still standing our ground.”
“My work doesn’t take any prisoners, I tell it how it is and I criticize the status quo, so it would be really awesome for the minister to see the show”
Edith Amituana’i MNZM is the 2024 recipient of the Pacific Contemporary Artist Award. She uses photography and film to tell stories of Pacific people around the world.
The Pacific Heritage Arts Award went to Signature Choir that promotes Pacific language and culture with its lush choral harmonies merged with orchestral arrangements.
Opera singer Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono was awarded the Iosefa Enari Memorial Award in recognition of his growing reputation as a tenor.
The Special Recognition Award went to Leafa Wilson aka Olga Hedwig Krause. Her career as an artist, writer, curator, and performance artist spans 40 years.
CNZ PASIFIKA ARTS AWARDS WINNERS 2024
Senior Pacific Artist ($25,000) - Tusiata Avia MNZM
Pacific Heritage Arts Award ($10,000) – Signature Choir
Pacific Toa Award ($10,000, two awards in 2024) – Max Stowers and
Falefatu Carreras-Enari
Pacific Contemporary Artist Award ($10,000) – Edith Amituana’i MNZM
Special Recognition Award ($10,000) – Leafa Wilson
Iosefa Enari Memorial Award ($7,500) – Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
Emerging Pacific Artist Award ($7,500) – Sione Monū