Fibre Gallery is the first of its kind in Te Wai Pounamu, a distinctly Moana-focused gallery dedicated to showcasing community-engaged, digital, and heritage artworks by Moana creatives.

Based in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch, Fibre Gallery is committed to increasing the visibility of Pacific artists and fostering greater understanding and appreciation of contemporary Pacific art among New Zealanders. By providing resources, opportunities, and a platform to amplify creative voices, we celebrate the richness of Pacific artistry and its role in shaping cultural expression.

Our mission extends to building connections between contemporary Pacific voices and wider social and political conversations, ensuring Pacific creativity plays a vital role in broader narratives.

We proudly acknowledge Ngāi Tūāhuriri iwi as mana whenua of this takiwā and as the rightful custodians of the land on which we stand.

Contact us at: fibregallery@tagatamoana.com

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Belonging to the Tide | Alex King

A place of fluidity, how culture endures even as the world changes. Deeply rooted in island and ocean identity.

7 August - 19 September

A glimpse into the Storytelling Photography & Documentary by Alex King.

This photographic series is part of a bigger project undertaken by King in 2024, encompassing a short film, documentary, and further photographs; offering an intimate portrait of the small resilient community of Pukapuka, a remote coral atoll in the northern Cook Islands.

The Wale’ people of Pukapuka live deeply rooted in their indigenous social and environmental systems. Despite their physical isolation, their way of life remains intricately connected to the land, sea, and cultural traditions that have sustained them for generations. As the outside world continues to shift, bringing climate change, coastal erosion, rising ocean temperatures, and Western influences, communities like Pukapuka face growing threats to their autonomy and ecological balance.

Yet it is precisely this remoteness that has protected Pukapuka for so long, enabling the community to uphold practices such as Ra’ui, a traditional conservation system that regulates the use of natural resources to ensure sustainability for future generations.

At the heart of Pukapuka's resilience is its social fabric, where women hold vital roles. The island follows a matriarchal system in which women are deeply respected as planters, growers, and stewards of traditional knowledge, especially in cultivating taro and leading creative and cultural practices. Whilst the men continue their fishing traditions and raising young boys on old practices and navigating knowledge.

Visually, this exhibition draws on a storytelling style that bridges past and present. Subtly toned black and white images, evoke a sense of timelessness, honoring the community’s enduring traditional way of life. These images contrast with color visuals that represent the present day, creating a layered narrative that speaks to continuity, memory, and resilience.

Through the voices of local leaders like Pati Ravarua, president of the women’s group on Pukapuka and nearby Nassau, and Mayor Levi, with other community members, these are honest reflections of identity, adaptation, and cultural strength.

As a Maori woman creative, this story is deeply personal to King. It is a reflection of her roots, a tribute to her lineage and the knowledge held by our women, a responsibility to amplify voices that are often unheard.