Sissy that walk : A short herstory of the Pacific Sisters

Abstract

Article discusses the history and work of artists' collective Pacific Sisters, in light of exhibition 'Pacific Sisters: Fashion Activists' at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. Includes a retrospective of their "kaupapa-driven" ethos of intermixing 'traditional' and 'new' cultural modes and materials, from performance art and language through to jewellery, body art, and fashion design. Considers identity and feminism (mana wāhine) within a contemporary indigenous Pacific context. Mentions traditional art forms including oratory, tapa, maro, korowai, titi, and the Mangaian story of 'Ina and Tuna'.