It’s been four years since the population of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville overwhelmingly voted in referendum for independence from Papua New Guinea. They still wait for the Papua government’s vote to agree.
2023 painting from Bougainville by Marilyn Havini Photo: Justin Spiers
The flag of Bougainville first designed by Marilyn Havini in 1975 Photo: supplied
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville was previously the main landmass of the North Solomons and has its own distinctive culture.
Artist Taloi Havini began life in Bougainville but fled with her family to Australia aged 9 due to a civil war which claimed 15,000 lives.
Peace talks were brokered at Burnham Military Camp in Canterbury in 1998, with Havini’s parents Moses and Marilyn key negotiators for the granting of autonomy.
A painter and activist, Marilyn Havini had previously had a major hand in the design of Bougainville’s flag, first adopted in 1975 by the then secessionist Republic of the North Solomons.
This year Taloi Havini has been artist in residence at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery where she has been connecting with the Pacific Island community.
Her exhibition Shared Aspirations brings together artefacts from the Burnham peace talks with a table similar to that used for the negotiations. The exhibition is on until 12 November.
Photo: Justin Spiers
Also exhibited are Taloi’s video works and a series of gorgeous paintings of Bougainville completed recently by Marilyn Havini.
Culture 101’s Mark Amery spoke with Taloi in Brisbane, together with her mother Marilyn in Buka, Bougainville.
2023 painting from Bougainville by Marilyn Havini Photo: Justin Spiers
