Fa’ahe’e a Mo’orea
Māuruuru te Moana
Vernacular images of the Pacific Islands
Ongoing photographic research / Work in progress
Living in a family of surfers means I am always looking for waves. When the conditions align, everyone gathers, and we stay for as long as the waves last.
Every time I visit Tahiti and Mo’orea, I am amazed that these moments have become part of my life. Watching professional surfers proudly celebrating their Pasifika heritage, in a place where surfing has been practised for centuries, makes me increasingly curious about the history of these islands.
France conducted its last nuclear test in French Polynesia in 1996, within my lifetime. It is a history I find impossible to separate from my experience of being there, even as I am still learning about it.
These photographs are the beginning of a longer investigation into surfing, Polynesian cultural heritage, colonial history, and the relationship between people and the ocean. For now, they are vernacular images made during time spent with family and friends, and the starting point for a project I hope to develop through further research and visits.
