A thrilling celebration of Pacific arts and culture took place Saturday 9th October at St Martin-in-the-Fields to mark the opening of the inaugural Pacific Art Festival.

Guests were treated to a recorded performance by Fiji-based dance company VOU’s re-developed excerpt of Navi Fong’s ‘Are We Stronger Than Winston?’ which was originally created in 2016 in response to Tropical Cyclone Winston’s devastation of land, life and livelihoods in Fiji.

As Fong began a captivating rendition of the Fijian lullaby O O Bawa on screen, former VOU dancer Ta’Arei Weeks entered the exhibition space. Her live performance, also choreographed by Fong, brought an emotive dimension to the opening festivities. Weeks concluded her performance by expressively introducing 2 artworks by Fijian artists Peni Ledua and Saimone Kikau while dancing to a soundtrack sung by VOU founder Sachiko Soro (images of the two pieces can be seen below).

The Pacific Art Festival is a three-week festival running 9-30 October 2021, produced by Pacific Island Artists Connection and hosted by St Martin-in-the-Fields in London’s Trafalgar Square.

This event brings together communities from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea who are based in the Pacific region as well as the UK’s large Pacific diaspora.

The festival is free and includes an art exhibition curated by the talented Sulu Daunivalu (Director, Museum of Pacific & Oceanic Art, Latvia), heritage arts and products and online panel discussions with Fijian and Pacific speakers and performers.

Showcasing both heritage and contemporary arts, including a wide variety of visual art that has never been shown before, the exhibition will take visitors on a journey across the Pacific region whilst highlighting the impact climate change is having on these small island nations and how Pacific communities are fighting back.

Many of the works on display will be for sale and this income will directly assist Pacific Islanders who have been so badly affected by the COVID pandemic. A selection of artists showing in the exhibition include Nicolai Michoutouchkine, Irami Buli and George Evans.

Online events concerning culture and the impacts of climate change in the region will be taking place throughout the festival. Additionally, UK-based Pacific Island community businesses Shop with Audrey and Tagimoucia UK will be on site selling handmade Fijian products – perfect for Christmas gifts.

All event updates will be posted at Pacific Art Festival London 2021: 9th October – 30th October | Facebook. The exhibition is open every day from 12 noon to 5pm.