Yuki Kihara

Phase 5 entitled ‘Tūlī’s flight’ (2023) makes an explicit reference to Tūlī or the Pacific Golden Plover and their aerial perspective of the Moana or the Pacific Ocean during migration. Tūlī begin their migration from Alaska & Serbia to the Moana transiting in Islands including Japan, Sāmoa & Aotearoa New Zealand, connecting places across the Moana during their extensive travel. It's said that Tagaloa – the supreme god of Sāmoa saw Tūlī as their favorite pet and messenger. Tagaloa fished up the Islands across the Moana to provide Tūlī places to land & rest. Tūlī have witnessed the winds to change across the Moana from the arrival of colonial expeditions, world wars, nuclear testing and the atmospheric changes in the air. Today, Tūīi's migration route have been disturbed by excessive pollution in their natural habitat, climate change and the aviation industry. ‘Tūlī’s flight’ (2023) aims to shed light on the plight of birds and serves as a clarion call to rethink how live sustainably with nature.

Yuki Kihara

Supported by Creative New Zealand.