WALKING THE WALL 2017

Walking the Wall explores the tensions that operate between mass global culture and minority culture, with particular focus on the norms and rules places upon femininity.

In the work Walking the Wall, Tiatia uses her body in conflict between the sacred and the uninhibited. By openly revealing her sacred malu (female tattoo), she confronts a Samoan cultural taboo, while simultaneously embracing – to the point of exhaustion – symbols of female sexuality in mass consumer culture (high heels and the bodysuit).

This is a highly transgressive work amongst the Samoan community. Tiatia has been vilified and physically threatened for this work, which for her, highlights sexism, misogyny (enforced by both men and women) and years of oppression via Christianity/colonisation placed upon the female body.

For Tiatia, this work openly challenges exisiting perceptions - empowering herself with a defiant gaze.