Photographing the Pacific Sisters: Vivienne Haldane

201 Eastbourne St East, Hastings

In photographs spanning decades, Vivienne Haldane has captured the intimate and dynamic journey of the Pacific Sisters, a groundbreaking art and fashion collective of Pasifika and Māori creatives.

Haldane’s lens has chronicled the Pacific Sisters’ vibrant artistry and cultural expression from the 1990s to the present day, with a particular focus on her close work with Nephi Tupaea, Suzanne Tamaki, and Rosanna Raymond. The exhibition bridges three distinct moments and includes striking black-and-white photographs of the Pacific Sisters shot around Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and vivid colour images from their participation in the 1994 World of Wearable Art (WOW) event in Whakatū Nelson.

The exhibition also features a more recent series with local resonance. Highlighting an enduring connection with the Sisters, Haldane has included works from a 2022 series, shot in the Pekapeka Wetlands, featuring the Heretaunga-based artist and longtime member of the Pacific Sisters Nephi Tupaea.

Haldane’s photographic exploration of the Pacific Sisters highlights their ongoing path of resilience, decolonisation, and Indigenous empowerment, while also underscoring the timeless power of collective creativity. For Haldane, these photographs are more than mere documentation; they represent a shared exploration of profound truths and awe-inspiring moments, affirming and honouring their legacy in today’s context.

Take a look around...

When

Fri 2nd May 2025, 10:00am

Sat 3rd May 2025, 10:00am

Tue 6th May 2025, 10:00am

Wed 7th May 2025, 10:00am

Thu 8th May 2025, 10:00am

Fri 9th May 2025, 10:00am

Sat 10th May 2025, 10:00am

Tue 13th May 2025, 10:00am

Wed 14th May 2025, 10:00am

Thu 15th May 2025, 10:00am

Fri 16th May 2025, 10:00am

Sat 17th May 2025, 10:00am

Where

Hastings Art Gallery, Hastings, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne

201 Eastbourne St East, Hastings