HIAPO
"Hiapo is the Niuean art form of Bark cloth painting that was rarely practiced over the last 100 years. It has recently been brought back into the Niuean community through artist Cora-Allan who is the granddaughter of Vakaafi and Fotia Lafaiki, they were both born in the village of Liku and raised in Alofi"
Cora-Allan began her journey being inspired by her grandparents who have been a big part of her life, learning how to celebrate Niue culture through dance, food and arts and crafts hiapo is an extension of that learning. Fa'apito Lesatele from Savaii, Samoa has been a great inspiration with the sharing of her knowledge and time with CA.
Visiting the island regularly, Cora-Allan has recently taken her sister and cousin back to Niue in hopes of them learning the art form of Hiapo as well. Attending community events where she can is important to her practice as she continues to plant her work in the community.
During Covid in 2020 myself and Nana Fotia Lafaiki received funding from CNZ to create a book together
RESEARCH IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Hiapo taoga are held all over the world in museum and private collections, they have travelled wide and far and tell the unique stories of tagata Niue during the time they were created. Part of my research and passion is to identify and correctly label hiapo that may be attributed to other islands. I also offer help to caretakers of Pacific collections who may be interested in knowing more about barkcloth and also how they can be better caregivers of Pacific taoga.
MUSEUMS VISITED
Aotearoa
Te Papa o Tongarewa, Wellington
Otago Museum, Dunedin
Canterbury Museum, Christchurch
Te Paenga Hira Waka, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Australia
New South Wales Gallery Collection, Melbourne
United States of America
Peabody Museum, Harvard
New Bedford Whaling Museum, Massachusetts
Brooklyn Museum Gallery, New York
United Kingdom
The Hunterian Museum Collection, Glasgow
Glasgow Life Museum
National Gallery of Scotland
Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Aberdeen Museum Collection
South Pacific
Taoga Museum, Niue
Te Papa o Tongarewa, Wellington
Otago Museum, Dunedin
Canterbury Museum, Christchurch
Te Paenga Hira Waka, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Australia
New South Wales Gallery Collection, Melbourne
United States of America
Peabody Museum, Harvard
New Bedford Whaling Museum, Massachusetts
Brooklyn Museum Gallery, New York
United Kingdom
The Hunterian Museum Collection, Glasgow
Glasgow Life Museum
National Gallery of Scotland
Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Aberdeen Museum Collection
South Pacific
Taoga Museum, Niue
Please make contact if you would like me to visit your institute in relation to Hiapo or Taoga Niue research