Ane Nanasi Pahulu
13 August -9 September
Ane and ‘Taimani’ monomono.
Making Monomono: Ane’s pani-style
Ane Nanasi Pahulu
Opening Sunday 14 Aug 11am
Ane Nanasi Pahulu (Faleloa, Haapai) is an innovative maker who is renowned for her patchwork style of monomono pani (sewn quilts and bedspreads). Monomono are used by Tongan communities in important cultural ceremonies and rituals and are a form of Tongan koloa (treasures and wealth). This exhibition celebrates monomono pani and gives audiences an insight to Ane’s design-thinking and making process.
Back in Tonga in the 1970s, Ane began with a basic square design, making monomono with other community women for the church elders to use as blankets. Aunty Muna Tofua’a who was a leader in the Seven Day Adventist church, would bring bags of used clothing and distribute them to all the women to remake into monomono. She says, “when we give to elders, we call it a’ahi ki he kau vaivai – giving to those in need, that’s your service”.
In 1988, Ane Pahulu migrated from Tonga with her Kāinga to Whanganui- a- Tara. Here Ane continued making monomono as a member of Tongan women's group Fefine Tonga in the early 1990s. They would make koloa as a way to help with their kavenga (cultural obligations). This was done at the Newtown library where they would meet and make together as community.
Monomono means to patch and to build. Ane says “I feel like when I make the monomono I am building something from small pieces, making it something great by adding all the squares together to make a special gift”. Some are regifted for special occasions, other monomono are purchased from Ane by other families as gifts for their own kāinga. Over the years, monomono has provided supplementary income for Ane. However, at the heart of practice Ane affirms that making monomono is most importantly a gift, something that represents a life of giving.
Making with Ane
11am to 12pm, Wednesdays
17-31 August
See the artist at work in these live demonstrations on making monomono.
Artist Ane Nanasi Pahulu will be joined by members of her family and curator Rachel Yates to demonstrate the making of monomono pani.
Develop deeper appreciation of the monomono (sewn quilts) - a form of koloa (treasures and wealth) - and talk with the family about Ane’s innovative designs.
