Sydney-based Samoan artist Brian Fuata visited Auckland for a show at Auckland’s Sumer Gallery earlier this month.
His work, known as ‘Intermission (seini_transmit)’ incorporates a diverse array of performance and communication modalities such as improvisation, oration, authentic movement and sound art.
It is also a nod to Tongan artist, song woman and orator, Seini Taumoepeau who passed away in May this year.
Fuata transformed the empty gallery into “an open repository of amassed material” for his performance.
“Each performance has its nuance or idiosyncratic, according to, you know, whatever is happening in my life,” Fuata says.
“And what is happening in my life at the moment is a moment of grief, where I am in, like, hundred days of mourning with… a dear sister who passed away recently, and who was like a Tongan shaman and spirit-woman and orator and so, this performance is grounded by her spirit.”
Originally from Newtown, Wellington, Fuata and his parents migrated to Australia in the 1980s. It was there where he found his new love for experimental performance art.
“I initially wanted to become like a normal actor,” he says.
“I was introduced to experimental performance practices when I moved down to Sydney when I was like 19, 20. And this kind of, sort of, community was really interested in breaking down the fourth wall.
“So, the performer was not this kind of, like, fictional character. It was one that actually could see the audience in a darkened space and then actually bring, you know, the reality of that gaze or that relationship as part of the work.”
At the age of 23, Fuata landed his big break project which elevated his career capabilities in the arts.
“I was given an opportunity to make a full-length theatre show which was about fa’afafine,” he reminisces.
“I’ve had lots of achievements, but I think that was a kind of, sort of, key role… that taught me lots of things. I’ve learnt so much from the director and the drama too.”
And having emerged from Australia’s experimental performance scene since his 20s, Fuata has represented works, both solo and collaborative across multiple institutions and galleries in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
His most recent work includes performing a piece titled ‘Apparitional resurrect’ at the SeMA – Seoul Museum of Art in Seoul earlier this year.
When he’s not working solo, Fuata collaborates with visual artist Agatha Gothe-Snape to form their artist duo, WrongSolo.
They have exhibited and performed internationally at lecture theatres and domestic spaces such as The Guest House, Gwangju Biennale of Art in 2018, The Gertrude Contemporary in Melbourne, 2017, and Horsham Regional Gallery in Victoria in the same year.
When it comes to representing his culture and the Pacific in his field of work, Fuata exudes an air of admiration towards his fellow Pacific artists.
“We’re prolific. We’re like agents and actors in the scene, and we can offer real, kind of, unique positions and perspectives. I love us. I think we’re amazing.”
Quotes have been edited for clarity.
THANKS TO
Live performance, featuring Ngāsti (Aroha Scott & Tyson Campbell), observed by John Miller
Sumer, Tāmaki Makaurau
Video: Dan du Bern / Sumer
