BIO
Tuafale Tanoa’i aka Linda.T is an artist based in Tāmaki Makau Rau/ Auckland and is of Samoan descent.
Using video, photography and DJ-ing Linda. T’s practice aims to document and share community stories, generating a living archive. Her kaupapa has been described as one that is based on koha – often made with and gifted back to the communities she is engaged with. She has also worked with various organisations from community to government lead incentives with a special interest in Pacific women’s health and youth. A Masters in Art and Design from AUT as well as an early career in local radio, TV and short film contribute to her methodology and multi media approach. Linda. T is widely recognised for her contributions to small communities in Aotearoa, New Zealand through her rigorous and uncompromising chronology as a documenter since the early 1980’s.
In addition to her solo practice Linda T. is a member of art collective D.A.N.C.E. art club alongside Vaimaila Urale, Chris Fitzgerald and Ahilapalapa Rands. Since forming D.A.N.C.E. in 2008 the members continue to utilise the club as a testing space for identifying and pushing against restrictive and exclusionary definitions of what art can be. With a collaborative curatorial approach, D.A.N.C.E. events incorporate installations, music, performance, and food sharing, reimagining the social dynamic as a creative and transgressive platform.
Recent projects include 2019 Live Hive Residency, Goa India Oct 2019-January 2020, 2019 From The Shore group exhibition Pataka Gallery. 2019 Macmillan Brown Pacific Arts Residency, Christchurch. 2018 Morni Hill Performance Artist Bienniale 2, 2018 From The Shore group exhibition at Te Uru Gallery. Every day is Mothers Day, Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, China 2016, D.A.N.C.E. art club presents NOHO 2016, All Goods Art Gallery, Auckland, 2016, NAVIGATE, Tautai 30th Anniversary exhibition, 2016 and Tea lounge with Linda.T, Te Uru Gallery, 2015;
QUALIFICATIONS
2008 – 2009 Masters of Art and Design, First Class Honours, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
2004 – 2007 Bachelor of Visual Arts, AUT University, Auckland New Zealand
1984 Outward Bound: Outdoor Pursuits Course 222A, Anakiwa
SELECTED AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2016 Solid Screen International Artist Award presented by CyberTribe and World Screen Culture
2012 Creative Technologies Interdisciplinary Fellow, AUT University
2010 Dean’s Award, Top Postgraduate Student, AUT University
2009 Master of Art + Design (Honours First Class), AUT University
2008 Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Award: Emerging Artist Tertiary Scholarship, AUT University Head of School Award in Visual Arts, AUT University
2007 Sculpture award for Visual Arts, AUT University
SELECTED EMPLOYMENT
2009- ongoing Freelance Videographer, Photographer and DJ,
2020 Laneway Music Festival
2019 Laneway & Splore music festivals
2015 Tutor, Creative Industries YG course, Future Skills Academy
2013 Researcher, Pacific Documentary, AUT University
2012 Production Runner/ Documenter, Niu Seeds Production
2011 Lecturer, AUT University
2004 – 2008 Technician Assistant, AUT University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2020 13th Pacific Arts & Culture Festival, Hawaii with D.A.N.C.E art club (postponed until June 2021)
From The Shore 3 : Dunedin Public Art Gallery (postponed until March 2021)
All Goods Artist in Residence, Avondale, Auckland
2019 Live Hive Residency, Goa, India . October – January 2020
Spontaneous Intentionality: The Performance, @ the cheese mongers, Christchurch
Spontaneous Intentionality, The Physics Room, Christchurch
From The Shore 2, Pataka Art + Museum, Porirua
2018: Chandigarh Performance Residency, India
From The Shore 1, Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, Auckland
Storytelling as Koha: consolidating community memories, Corbans Estate Arts Centre, Auckland
2017 Plants and people, Studio One, Auckland
Whau Arts Festival, Auckland
2016 Every day is Mothers Day, Pingyao International Photography Festival, China
2015 Navigate: Tautai 30th Anniversary, Studio One, Auckland
Tea Lounge, Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, Auckland
2013 Offstage, Artspace, Auckland
2012 Made Active, Auckland Art Gallery
2011 The Performance Arcade, Aotea Square, Auckland
2008 Architecture for the Nation, Artspace, Auckland
