‘sis: Pacific Art 1980–2023’
Aug 2023 -
Sep 2024

Sis, susa, tuofefine, tuahine, tuafafine, sister eo an, tita, kauaemua, sista — there are many different words for ‘sister’ in the Pacific region. The exhibition ‘sis’ investigates three decades of art-making from a sisterhood of artists from across Oceania. Important figures, often largely unknown outside their homelands are highlighted, alongside established artists, to create an expanded vision of the art of Oceania since the early 1990s. The exhibition includes textiles, ceramics, photography, moving image, sculpture, installation and performance.
‘sis: Pacific Art 1980-2023’ was realised with the support of Creative New Zealand.
‘sis’ is on display in GOMA’s Galleries 3.3 & 3.4 (Marica Sourris and James C. Sourris AM Galleries) until 8 September 2024. As this is a rotating exhibition, not all Collection works below will be on display simultaneously.
Feature image: Rosanna Raymond performs within ’sis: Pacific Art 1980–2023’, pictured here with works by Jaki-ed weavers, GOMA, August 2023 / Collection: QAGOMA / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon, QAGOMA
Collection artworks featured in ‘sis: Pacific Art 1980–2023’

A'Pua 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Sasana 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Sinsu 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Sinsu 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Tulbus 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Tulbus 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Bwana (Money mat) 2000
- HUNAI, Alice - Creator

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- PAUL, Motdrik - Artist
- TIMOTHY, Terse - Artist

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- KATTIL, Mela - Creator

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- ELMOREY, Rosie - Creator

Au (sago pot) 2011
- KIMGIMANI, Alexia - Creator

Habitat: Konawiru 2016
- HAVINI, Taloi - Creator

Cooking pot 1997
- GOLE, OL, Joyce Mary Arasepa - Creator

Mahina Poepoe 2016
- APIO-TAKASHIMA, Verna - Creator

Muairua water vessel 1 2020
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Saqa water vessel 1 2020
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Saqa gusuirua water vessel 2 2021
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Tagaurua water vessel 2 2021
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Jedi and the Mona (from 'Blood Generation' series) 2009, printed 2015
- HAVINI, Taloi - Artist
- MILLER, Stuart - Photographer

Dark Continent (performance documentation) 2018
- TAUMOEPEAU, Latai - Artist
- WIMBERLEY, Zan - Photographer

Flowers 2021
- JACOB, Leindrik - Creator
- ALVIN, Keju - Artist
- BOKTOK, Ketty - Artist
- KIOTAK, Naer - Artist
- HAX, Buoj - Artist
- GOLD, Janice - Artist
- LANWI, Almitha - Artist

Chalice 2019
- BROADBENT, Tungane - Creator

Couronne du Roi (The King's crown) 2003
- TAMARII, Emma - Artist
- TAMARII, Marie-Therese - Collaborating artist

Best foot forward 2011
- GRAY, Julia Mage'au - Creator

Super Super 2003
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Bitter sweet 2015
- TOGO-BRISBY, Jasmine - Creator

Burebasaga Marama’s 2017
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Siva in Motion 2012
- KIHARA, Yuki - Creator

Ripper 2002
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator
- Theiler, Michael - Sound Designer

A Maori dragon story 1995
- REIHANA, Lisa - Creator

Sasana 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Sinsu 2018
- PETER, Rose - Artist
- PIRIAN, Papou - Artist
- BUTU, Nancy Tangtsi - Lead artist
- NAKARIPA CLAN - Clan

Sinsu 2018
- PETER, Rose - Artist
- PIRIAN, Papou - Artist
- BUTU, Nancy Tangtsi - Lead artist
- NAKARIPA CLAN - Clan

Sinsu 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Kakato 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Kakoto 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Tulbus 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Tulbus 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- MOLADRIK, Clantine - Artist
- CLARENCE, Artina - Artist

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- JIETA, Susan - Creator

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- FANDINO, Helmera - Artist
- KEJU, Airine - Artist

Au (sago pot) 2011
- KIMGIMANI, Alexia - Creator

Cooking pot 2015
- GOLE, OL, Joyce Mary Arasepa - Creator

Saqa gusuitolu water vessel 1 2020
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Creator
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Muairua water vessel 2 2021
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Tagaurua water vessel 1 2021
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Beroana (shell money) II 2016
- HAVINI, Taloi - Creator

Dark Continent (performance documentation) 2018
- TAUMOEPEAU, Latai - Artist
- WIMBERLEY, Zan - Photographer

Dark Continent (performance documentation) 2018
- TAUMOEPEAU, Latai - Artist
- WIMBERLEY, Zan - Photographer

The Last Resort Robes 2020
- TAUMOEPEAU, Latai - Artist
- ALOUA, Taliu - Co-deviser

Fan c.2020
- TUPOU, Lesieli Katokakala Tohi - Creator

Flowers 2021
- JACOB, Leindrik - Creator
- ALVIN, Keju - Artist
- BOKTOK, Ketty - Artist
- KIOTAK, Naer - Artist
- HAX, Buoj - Artist
- GOLD, Janice - Artist
- LANWI, Almitha - Artist

Tairiiri (fan) 2005-06
- BROADBENT, Tungane - Creator

Orchid 2020
- BROADBENT, Tungane - Creator

New Angel I-III 1998
- WHITE, Robin - Designer
- TEITOININGAINA CATHOLIC WOMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE - Weavers

Teitei vou (A new garden) 2009
- WHITE, Robin - Artist
- TOKI, Leba - Artist
- JIONE, Bale - Artist

ʻAuʻa 2019
- LANDGRAF, Kapulani - Creator

Cinco 2002
- HUTCHINSON, Lonnie - Creator

Kalibobo 2010
- JAUKAE-KAMEL, Florence - Creator

Guard 2017
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Constantly Changing 2018
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

The Peel 2004
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Untitled 1995
- NÉPORON, Micheline - Creator

Untitled 1995
- NÉPORON, Micheline - Creator

Rollergirl 2004
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Veibuni 2018
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Wha tekau ma tahi Auhunga Heitiki, Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum, Okains Bay, South Island, Aotearoa/New Zealand Heitiki made by a Parihaka ploughman imprisoned in Dunedin (from 'Te mate o te aroha/The pain of longing' series) (from 'Quai Branly' 2002, printed 2006
- PARDINGTON, Fiona - Creator

hyper girls 1998
- REIHANA, Lisa - Artist
- O'NEILL, Ani - Artist

Sasana 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Sasana 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Sinsu 2018
- PETER, Rose - Artist
- PIRIAN, Papou - Artist
- BUTU, Nancy Tangtsi - Lead artist
- NAKARIPA CLAN - Clan

Sinsu 2018
- NAKAS CLAN - Clan
- ASIKE, Kiria - Lead artist
- LAMBERT, Elizabeth Ngosi - Artist
- HAKOT, Rachael Hapious - Artist
- HAROHI, Therese Pitapita - Artist
- HAVINI, Lydian Tarine - Artist
- HUGESE, Maria Lingi - Artist
- PENA, Judith - Artist

Sinsu 2017
- SAMAN, Elizabeth Watsi - Creator

Kakoto 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Tulbus 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Tulbus 2018
- ASIKE, Kiria - Creator

Bwana (Money mat) 2000
- HUNAI, Alice - Creator

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- KELEN, Moje - Artist
- JIBON, Roselee - Artist

(Jaki-ed) 2017
- JESSE, Banithe - Artist
- JIETA, Susanta - Artist

Huina’kolu’like 2021
- APIO-TAKASHIMA, Verna - Creator

Saqa gusuirua water vessel 1 2020
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Saqa water vessel 2 2020
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Saqa gusuitolu water vessel 2 2021
- BAINIVALU, Apenisa - Artist
- LAISEANE, Laweni Tekina - Artist

Ua ka ua, kahe ka wai 2022
- LEHUAUAKEA - Creator

Dark Continent (performance documentation) 2018
- TAUMOEPEAU, Latai - Artist
- WIMBERLEY, Zan - Photographer

The Last Resort 2020
- TAUMOEPEAU, Latai - Artist
- ALOUA, Taliu - Co-deviser
- MARUSIC, Miriana - Videographer/editor

Flowers 2021
- JACOB, Leindrik - Creator
- ALVIN, Keju - Artist
- BOKTOK, Ketty - Artist
- KIOTAK, Naer - Artist
- HAX, Buoj - Artist
- GOLD, Janice - Artist
- LANWI, Almitha - Artist

Flowers 2021
- JACOB, Leindrik - Artist
- ALVIN, Keju - Artist
- BOKTOK, Ketty - Artist
- KIOTAK, Naer - Artist
- HAX, Buoj - Artist
- GOLD, Janice - Artist
- LANWI, Almitha - Artist

Tifaifai (Marquesan style) 2000
- TAMARII, Emma - Creator

Epifania 2022
- AMITUANAI, Edith - Creator

Pocari sweat 2014
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Edging and seaming 2013
- TIATIA, Angela - Creator

Digital Marae 2001
- REIHANA, Lisa - Creator

Cocoon 2004
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator

Person peel 2002
- TAWALE, Salote - Creator