For over two decades, Edith Amituanai has photographed homes across Aotearoa. In this talk, she reflects on the domestic interior—particularly the “front room”—as a kind of stage, and how these spaces connect to her the exhibition Lupe I Vao Ese (doves in different pastures).
Edith Amituanai is a New Zealand–born Samoan lens-based artist in Tāmaki Makaurau.Her work explores how environments shape identity, focusing on Samoan transnational communities. Notable projects include Dejeuner, capturing Samoan rugby players in Europe, and La Fine Del Mondo, documenting Chin refugees in Auckland. Committed to community, she leads workshops, teaches, and undertakes residencies like Keep on Kimi Ora. In 2019, she held her first major survey exhibition and was appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit. Recent exhibitions include the Hawai‘i Triennial 2025 and Toloa Tales at Pataka Art Museum.
Edith's work has inspired the vision behind "Lupe I Vao Ese" - a free Pasifika heritage exhibition at the Central City Library from Wednesday 17 September to Saturday 7 March 2026.In this event, hear Edith talk and take time to view the exhibition that explores the journey of measina/taonga living in different environments and in relationship with the Pacific Heritage Collection.
Tāmaki untold: conversations celebrating the taonga, stories and creativity of Auckland. A curated monthly talk series held in the Whare Wānanga hosted by Research and Heritage Services, Auckland Libraries.
$2.50 per hour to a max of $12.50 on weekends and a $12 flat rate for weekday evenings at The Civic car park. Find out more.