Humans Of The Islands - Emily Mafile'o
Emily Mafile'o
Photographer
Tongan/European/Maori
Tell us about yourself and what you do -
Tongan/European/Maori living in Manurewa, South Auckland. Mama to my son, Emil first and foremost.
I freelance in photography, set dressing for TV and films and am a big promoter of Contemporary Pasifika/Tongan Arts in my Community. I am proud to be part of the ManaRewa Collective based at Nathan Homestead.
Why are you fascinated with photographing contemporary Tongan culture?
Tongan culture is at a fascinating time! There are so many different versions of Tongan people that we need to celebrate.
How does your Tongan heritage influence your photography?
It has had a huge influence in my work, to start off it was a tool I used to help create an understanding of my own cultural identity, I explored that through photographing other Tongans (all famili and friends) and their lives. It was also for a long time a shield for me to hide behind until I felt comfortable with who I am. I am extremely proud to be Tongan, I believe in the importance of my people taking the responsibility in documenting our own culture. Telling our own stories.
Finding a position in my photography to be able to get my thoughts or people's experiences across that don't disrespect my culture. If it is the truth, then I am happy with that.
Do you have an ultimate goal as an artist?
To encourage other Tongan photographers and Tongan people in general in the importance of documenting our people in Tonga and the wider diaspora. To encourage contemporary Tongan photography in the arts.
To be proud of what I create and to be able to continue doing it!
Where do you draw creative inspiration from and who are your favorite artists?
From my people, my famili, friends and the environments that surround me.
I am lucky to be surrounded by amazing fellow artists / photographers who inspire me constantly.
Ann Shelton and Ane Tonga for New Zealand/ Aotearoa female photographers are a couple of my favorites. Nan Goldin would be one of my major influences, in my work. Nan Goldin believes that ‘pictures come out of relationships, not observations’.
Tell us about your new project “Tonga’s Strength – Hold Is Its Heart”
It is about the "150th Anniversary of Tupou College Toloa, Tonga". “Tonga’s Strength – Hold Is Its Heart” is the Motto of the school.
My father, Saia went there, and as children we lived there for a bit while Dad gave back to his school, working on the farm, Dad continued to stay there for another 6 years after we came back to New Zealand for schooling. Tupou College Toloa has always been in our lives, Dad reminiscing about his time there and the constant storytelling of different events, fundraising for the school and no trip back home to Tonga was complete without us visiting the School.
It is a photographic journey of our Dad and family and the experiences we had during the celebrations. It was a bitters sweet time for our family, wonderful to see our Dad come alive as he caught up with old friends and be recognised for his time at Tupou College Toloa, Head Boy and Captain of the First Fifteen. But also hard for us, as this school took our Father away from us for so many years, which also lead to other consequences.
Another thing I noticed was that all the males in our famili went to private schools, my father, my brother - St Pauls in Hamilton and my son went to a state integrated school - Wesley College, however, all of us girls went to Public schools.This is something that I also explored in my work.
I am very raw with my photography and often photograph things that are not always deemed appropriate, especially in regards to my Tongan culture. It is an intimate look I would say.
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