Monsoon - Reflections on the Pacific: A So'o of images from Samoa

5 September 2014

Nikki Sloan, Bianca Hennessy, Emma Roberts and Maea Buhre curate a selection of images from the 2013 Pacific Field School.

Last December, in a so’o (collaboration) with the National University of Samoa and University of the South Pacific, ANU students engaged with Samoan culture through research, practical assignments and dance performances on the 2013 Pacific Islands Field School offered by the College of Asia and the Pacific. This photo essay is a selection of images from a photographic exhibition currently displayed at the ANU showcasing the work of those 16 students.

These photos illustrate their experiences with Samoan people and culture, highlighting their learning and reflections. The trip also included a visit to visit the family of an ANU student, Mitiana Arbon, in Tafua Tai village. ANU students are mentioned by their first name in the captions. For more of a taste of their time in Samoa, watch these videos by Anna Pavlakis.

The full exhibition is on display in the main entrance of the Coombs Building, ANU until the end of October.

: Mitiana’s grandmother, Tatu, having a laugh with Anna. Photographer: Bianca Hennessy

: Taken in Apia, this photo illustrates the central presence of Christianity in Samoa. Photographer: Emma Roberts

: Carvings on the deck of the Gaualofa, the va’a (voyaging canoe) of the Samoa Voyaging Society. Photographer: Richard Filer.

: Emma, Moha and Anna standing in the beautiful clear ocean at Lalomanu Beach (Eastern Upolu). Photographer: Lara Bouris

: The taupou mixing the ‘ava for our welcoming ceremony in the University of the South Pacific (USP) fale. Photographer: Lara Bouris.

: Nikki and Mitiana celebrating at the Tafua Tai village welcome. Photographer: Johnson Tan

: Children playing in a seaside pool in Savai’i. Photographer: Maddy King

: Artist Penehuro Papali’i in his ‘Beautiful Expressions of Nature’ sculpture garden, which is currently under construction. Photographer: Tristan McCall

: Anna wearing a lei of fresh flowers. Photographer: Lara Bouris

: Moha, performing to Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai, a Hawai’i hula illustrating the gathering of seaweed at the Sinalei multimedia show. Photographer: Johnson Tan

: The entire so’o from University of the South Pacific, National University of Samoa and ANU, taken in front of the USP fale, Alafua campus. Photographer: Johnson Tan

There are many people to thank for bringing the Samoa exhibition into Coombs. Most importantly: Katerina Teaiwa, Emma Roberts, Nikki Sloan, Bianca Hennessy, Maea Buhre, Lewis Hirst (and the Asia-Pacific Learning Community), Tamai Heaton, Andrew Walker, and all of the talented student photographers.

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Filling Coombs with the Ocean | The Monsoon Project says:

September 9, 2014

[…] Buhre, Nikki Sloan and I have put together a selection of images from the exhibition that you can view online.If you would like to see the exhibition for yourself, it will be on display for about another […]

Pacific Island Field School, Honolulu | ANU Pacific Field School - Honolulu says:

September 17, 2014

[…] spaces in an institution like The Australian National University. Both Bianca’s article and a selection of images from the exhibit can be found at The Monsoon Project. This year the Field School hopes to build on the good will and […]

Pacific Island Field School, Honolulu | Painim Wok says:

September 17, 2014

[…] spaces in an institution like The Australian National University. Both Bianca’s article and a selection of images from the exhibit can be found at The Monsoon Project This year the Field School hopes to build on the good will and […]

Pacific Reflections from Hawai’i | The Monsoon Project says:

March 30, 2015

[…] 2013 Pacific Island field school exhibition, it is on display in the foyer of the H.C Coombs Building, outside the office of the Dean, ANU […]