Suzanne Tamaki's garment in the Porirua 50th anniversary fashion show Photo: Suzanne Tamaki
Artist Suzanne Tamaki Photo: Supplied/Suzanne Tamaki
Suzanne Tamaki has many feathers in her cap.
Of Ngāti Maniapoto, Hikairo, Tūhoe and Te Arawa iwi, Suzanne Tamaki is known for her jewellery and costume design - her work is inspired by Pacific mythology and indigenous clothing styles.
Suzanne is also a Māori warden in Pōneke Wellington including during the recent Hīkoi mo Te Tiriti, and a creative producer at Wellington City Council.
She's also one of the founding members of the powerhouse Tangata Moana art collective Pacific Sisters.
Suzanne joined Culture 101 from Melbourne where they've just landed for two showings of their work there.
Back in Pōneke, Tamaki is leading the 'No hea koe? Ko wai koe?' project finding out the names of the people in Ans Westra's images held by Suite Gallery in Cuba Street.
Suzanne Tamaki's garment for the Asia Pacific Triennial at GOMA in Brisbane. The model is Aroha Rawson. Photo: Suzanne Tamaki
They have been activating public spaces with some of these images...
Ans Westra photographed gang members and centred their patches in her work, and Tamaki's own work often includes patches and uniforms. What she calls 'fashion activism'.
She spoke to us about the new gang patch legislation.
