 | Niki Hastings-McFall’s personal research into her own heritage, beliefs and cultural diversity has informed her art practice which reflects on the merging of cultures and New Zealand’s role in the creation of an urban Pacific. Her previous works have used a variety of media including shells, glass beads, metal, filmstrip, and plastic which she has crafted into exquisite Pacific lei and breastplates.
The juxtaposition of new media on traditional Pacific symbols is designed to comment on the impact of colonisation and Christianity as well as political and environmental issues (such as her Lei created from glow-in-the-dark flowers and beads as a reference to nuclear testing) that have influenced Pacific culture.
Niki Hastings-McFall graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts (BVA)from Auckland University at Manukau School of Visual Arts and earlier graduated with a Certificate in Contemporary Jewellery, Manukau Institute of Technology (1994).
It wasn’t until 1992 that she first met with her father’s Samoan family and since that point her work has explored her personal heritage. Her work is represented in New Zealand (including the Dowse Art Museum, Auckland Museum and Te Papa), Australian and American art collections. | |
