Paradise Camp

Y. Kihara, N.King Oam

Interdisciplinary artist Yuki Kihara presents an ensemble exhibition, Paradise Camp, from the unique perspective of Fa'afafine - "in the manner of a woman" or third gender in Samoa. Conceived eight years ago, Paradise Camp comprises a suite of twelve tableau photographs in saturated colour that upcycle paintings by Paul Gauguin; a five-part episodic "talk show" series whereby a group of Fa'afafine comment wittily on select Gauguin paintings and Kihara's personal research archive. Kihara's audacious reenactments address intersectionality between decolonisation, identity politics, and climate crisis from a staunchly Pasifika perspective, telling their story from the Pacific.