Taloi Havini’s practice is informed by her matrilineal ties to land and community in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Beroana (shell money) II 2016 comprises a suspended spiral of porcelain, stone- and earthenware discs, graduating from tones of earthy terracotta to cream. The work references the relationship-based economy in Havini’s homeland, in which a shell-based currency called beroana is used to create and maintain life-sustaining connections. Beroana are sacred and are passed from generation to generation. They are carefully stowed away when not in use, and form an integral part of ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals and family reconciliations. This traditional economy lies in stark contrast to profit-driven resource extraction by Western companies, a practice exemplified by the Panguna copper mine in Central Bougainville. (Havini’s suite of three photographs Middle Tailings (Bougainville Copper Ltd, Panguna Mine), all 2015, document the ongoing environmental devastation that Rio Tinto’s operations have caused.)