Lakiloko Keakea

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See also: Art of Tuvalu

Lakiloko Keakea
MNZM
Born1948 (age 75–76)
Nui, Tuvalu
NationalityTuvaluvan
Known forHandicraft
Notable work'Fafetu' (2012)
AwardsCreative New Zealand Pacific Heritage Art Award (2017)

Lakiloko Keakea MNZM (born 1948) is an artist from Tuvalu, living in New Zealand.[1] She is a member of Fakapotopotoga Fafine Tuvalu – the Tuvalu Women’s arts collective.[2]

Background[edit]

Keakea was born in 1948, in Nui, Tuvalu. In 1957, Keakea moved to Niutao and in 1971 moved to Kiribati with her first husband. In 1996, she moved to New Zealand and currently lives in Ranui, Auckland.[3]

Career[edit]

Keakea is considered a mea taulima artist, meaning that she creates her artwork with her hands, and is a promoter of Pasifika handcrafts.[3][4]

Keakea learned the practise of kolose (crochet) from her mother, at the age of 12, and began making dresses and tiputa (crochet tops). Keakea began making art in the 1950s, after moving to Niutao. Her first works included a belt, baskets, fans and trays. In the 1970s Keakea became active in Fakapotopotoga Fafine Tuvalu, an art group that taught and promoted the art practices of women from the various islands of Tuvalu.[2] She travelled with the group to the Marshall Islands and learned the techniques of making fafetu, a star-shaped woven design.[3] Keakea became well known for the practise, including teaching it to other artists.[4]

In 2012 Keakea exhibited alongside several Pacific master artists in 'Home AKL: Artists of Pacific Heritage' at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.[5][4]

Keakea's largest fafetu is held in the collection of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.[6] She also has pieces in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[7]

In 2018, Keakea held a major solo exhibition Fafetu at Objectspace art gallery in Auckland.[1][8][9] Fafetu was curated by Malama T-Pole, who promotes Tuvaluan art forms and is a member of the Niutao Community Trust.[2] The Dowse Art Museum in Wellington held a solo exhibit of Keakea's work in 2019 in its first solo exhibit of Tuvaluan art.[10][11]

Honours and awards[edit]

In 2017, Keakea won the Pacific Heritage Art Award from the annual Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards.[1][4][12] She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2023 New Year Honours, for services to Tuvaluan art.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Cristian, Dionne (4 October 2018). "Traditional Tuvaluan craft weaves links with island life". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Interwoven Tuvaluan identity". New Zealand Ministry for the Pacific Peoples. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Māhina-Tuai, Kolokesa (2012). "Lakiloko Keakea". Auckland Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Tuvalu's Lakiloko Keakea wins Pacific Heritage Arts Award". Pacific Guardians. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. ^ Māhina-Tuai, Kolokesa U. (22 October 2014). "Pacific arts in New Zealand". Te Ara: Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Lakiloko Keakea: Fafetu". Auckland Art Gallery. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Lakiloko Keakea". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. ^ Kazbek, Katya (3 November 2019). "Art: Fafetu, The Traditional Crocheted Patterns of Polynesia by Lakiloko Keakea". Supamodu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  9. ^ Chapman, Madeleine (11 October 2018). "The Single Object: Lakiloko and the functional beauty of Tuvalu art". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  10. ^ "NZ public gallery shows first exhibition of Tuvaluan art". RNZ. 1 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Lakiloko Keakea: Fafetu". Dowse Art Museum. 2019. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Arts Pasifika Awards". Creative NZ. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  13. ^ "New Year honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
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