Art can be a great tool to pass on the messages about Whales and the need to protect them in our oceans here in Oceania, says the Pew Charitable Trusts of New Caledonia.
Presenting during a side show at the ‘Whales in a changing Ocean’ conference at the Tanoa Dateline International Hotel in Nuku’alofa Wednesday, the Trusts rep, Ms Aline Schaffar said their current exhibition at the Tijibaou Gallery in Noumea reflects these important messages.
“The exhibition goes in line with the fact that we are celebrating Year of the Whales and we had artists from New Caledonia and the region come over to Noumea for three weeks and work on getting the messages out in art form,” she said.
“The artists were also able to watch the whales as it was the whale watching season as well.”
The exhibition includes works of Tongan artist Reha Fifita, who is part of the talented Fifita Family – operators of the On the Spot Arts Initiative in Kolofo’ou.
Ms Fifita was invited as part of the group that visited Noumea last year.
A total of eight artists took part in the three-week work programme, with five from New Caledonia and three from the region.
Ms Schaffar presented photos of the art works, which was a variety of different art methods, using different materials but focusing on whales and the ocean.
The exhibition in Noumea will run until August before that is taken to other parts of New Caledonia.
Participants showed their interest in seeing how best such linkages with local artists in their respective countries can be funded and implemented to help spread the message about whale protection.
Photo by R2R