Samoan Moe Laga is an Interdisciplinary artist who recently completed her three-month Pacific Aniva residency at Pātaka Arts + Museum.
The paid residency is offered to a Pacific artist or practitioner who identifies as LBTQIA+/MVPFAFF.
She completed her tenure with a performance that consisted of a combination of digital art, dance and technology, accompanied with spoken word.
This was Laga’s first performance as a solo artist.
“This show is called ‘Fetū / Fetu‘u: The Stars / Curses’ and it’s quite similar to my previous works, but I feel like this is a more honest, raw reflection of what my life has been like for the last 33 years.
“And also, I try to embody what my ‘faʻafafine’ (men who are raised and identify as females) ancestors would have been like, if they were in this place and this time. So, there’s a lot of ‘witchy-poo’ stuff and a lot of sexuality and rawness,” says Laga.
Born in Auckland, Laga’s road to becoming an artist was, at times, difficult, especially coming out as transgender.
“I grew up with a strict Samoan family that went to an EFK Sa church. So, it was basically ‘handi fa’a Samoa’ (100% Samoan). It was just all of those values and like…
“I think it was really clear that I was queer coming up, but I felt like they were trying to, like, just sweep that under the rug and didn’t want to have the conversations about youth.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learnt I kind of forgive my family because I see how hard it is.”
And you know, as islanders… some things you don’t talk about, and we kind of want to change that narrative these days and talk about it more and have proper talanoa in a safe way,” says Laga.
Because of her past experience, helping transgender people is a passion, she’s become a mentor or a “mother” for the ‘House of Coven’ on the ballroom scene.
“Some kids that are still questioning and (I) just kind of help them navigate the world and have conversations with their families, about that important thing of how to accept their kids, basically.” she says.
“Always pay tribute to those that have come before you, but also tell your own story because your story is unique and all the messy complexities you have is all worth it.”
Laga has appeared in numerous onscreen cameo roles such as in the quirky TVNZ series “Motherhood” and in comedy film “The Breaker Upperers”. Now with the residency completed she is looking forward to writing for television and films.
“I’m looking at doing some more art, but I’m trying to transition more into the film world now. I want to direct and write my own stuff, say in the next five years and try and create more pathways for our Pasifika Queers to kind of come in and yeah, work, take over the film industry and the art scene.”
