Description:

How can contemporary needlework and embroidery assist me to connect with my Niuean ancestry?

My mum’s family is Niuean. My aims were to show my journey of reconnection, bring Niuean embroidery to the forefront, help to raise the visibility of the culture, and to celebrate my Niuean ancestry.

‘Threads of Connection’ showcases contemporary needlework and embroidery designs inspired by Niuean flora, traditional patterns, colour, motifs and the language. The collection documents my journey of reconnection. Through use of hand-drawn motifs, digital embroidery, digital print and screen-printing techniques, I have created textiles that celebrate Niuean material culture and brings it to the forefront.

Niuean flora is something that is readily recognisable to the Niuean diaspora in New Zealand and demonstrates an intangible connection to Niue. I was also informed by Tivaevae and embroidered pillowcases as they are valued items in Niuean cultural ceremonies and gifting. They have special meanings – the strong contrasts of colour, variations and abstract symmetry in pattern and design of tivaevae are significant for the maker and their family. They reflect social remembering and family connections to be passed on to the next generation.

I did lots of drawings of Niuean flora, initially starting with media such as pencils, watercolour and Indian ink, then developing them with felt pens, crayons, soft pastels, fine black pens, charcoal pencils and blending techniques. I focused on drawing basic shapes, creating movement with the lines, moments of looseness and texture and others more detailed. From here, I photocopied different scales of the drawings, cut them out, and used them to make collage compositions. I then took my drawings and translated them into digital files for digital embroidery, digital print, and created screen-prints. In some pieces, I used a combination of these techniques.

The audience: my innovative designs will tell my story of reconnection and help raise the visibility of Niuean culture to other members of the Niuean diaspora in New Zealand. Pacific people use designs drawn from nature to decorate their homes and use them in social / cultural events. I have created designs that can be used to decorate the home. Because my designs are bright, colourful and interesting, people outside of the Niuean diaspora may also like them and want to use them in decorating their home. This widens the audience and brings Niuean material culture to the forefront.

The pieces have multifunctional purposes for an interior output such as wall-hangings, quilts, bedspreads, table-cloths, and cushion covers, due to the cotton duck and upholstery polyester materials used.