In the Pacific body adornment such as human hair, feathers, and ivory visually expressed social standing and thus were reserved for elite. In this exhibition, Grills, the gold plating of teeth (niko koula) is related to raising social status. Changing motivations situate nifo koula within the materiality of body adornment in the Pacific. Nifo koula has become an expression of identity for Tongan’s living in diaspora.
Sister Speak: Saturday, 7 June at 1pm
Nina Tonga, Curator of Pacific Cultures, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, interviews Ane Tonga about the photographs in Grills.
