In Speaking in Colour, ten artists of Pacific Island descent talk candidly about their lives and work, and about finding themselves as artists. They speak eloquently about coming to terms with their complex cultural heritage. As one of the artists, Lyle Penisula, puts it, ‘I don’t want people to look at my work and pigeonhole it. I am proud of being a Samoan but I am not just that.’

Many of the artists also pay tribute to those who have helped them, including the New Zealand painter Tony Fomison, and the distinguished Samoan artist Fatu Feu‘u, who have done much to support the work of young Pacific artists living in New Zealand.

About the authors:
Sean Mallon and Pandora Fulimalo Pereira were the first trainees of Pacific Island descent to enter the curatorial field at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Auckland Museum respectively. They worked together for two years on the concept team developing the Pacific exhibitions at Te Papa. This is their first book.