16th June 2023
“COLOURS OF FIJI” Creative Experiences at Sigavou Studios
Since Fiji re-opened international borders in December 2021, Sigavou Studios has been undergoing a colourful metamorphosis – switching up from the small, home-based, family-centered art studio that has been our bread and butter for the past twenty years – to embrace a new, much larger warehouse space with all kinds of exciting possibilities!
Part of that vision is creating a setting where we can host visiting groups for immersive experiences in a local art studio that has a celebration of Fijian culture, colour and environment at its heart! This aspect of our studio life will be officially launched in June 2023.
Visitors can opt for a two-hour curated session where they will be welcomed with a short presentation about our creative journey, a tour of our gallery space with a chance to hear some of the back-stories behind the Fiji-inspired artwork we create, and an introduction to the beautiful traditional barkcloth we paint on. Participants will then have a chance to roll up their sleeves and work alongside our team of young artists, trying their hand at some of the signature creative techniques we use at Sigavou Studios. This might involve stencilling patterns onto a piece of barkcloth using dyes made from mangrove sap, or blending our vibrant, acrylic paints to create a small work of contemporary, island-vibe art as a personal take-home piece.
For those who would prefer to create something more functional, we have other fun projects up our sleeves, such as tote-bag and scarf painting – using simple processes that cater to both the artistically gifted right through to someone who may not have picked up a paint brush for years!
We love working collaboratively to paint large, brightly coloured murals – so there will be some of that going on as well. Visitors will be invited to add their own contributions to our mural boards, helping to create a kaleidoscope of tropical colour that, once completed, will be donated to our local hospital, an orphanage we partner with, a school, or some other community-based space.
For groups that prefer to focus entirely on mural painting – we have experience in facilitating tailor-made CSR events – based in our studio, or externally in a host community. We are passionate about integrating capacity-building training for our local partners into these arrangements – generating meaningful participation that is authentic and two-way. Clients can also contribute toward scholarships that enable local children to attend the school holiday art classes we offer as a community outreach programme. Many of Fiji’s schools are not able to sustain arts development programmes, so our creative classes offer an alternative, fun space where young talent can be nurtured and promoted.
If a short stop is all there is time for, our DIY studio tour offer a chance to see a Fijian art studio in action. At our brightly painted warehouse, overlooking the Nadi Airport runway, visitors can observe our artists at work, creating some of the eye-catching designs that now grace the walls of a growing number of Fiji’s flagship resorts and hotels. Browsing through the colourful collections of Fiji-inspired paintings and giftware on display in our showroom becomes a journey of discovery, with many of our art pieces referencing fascinating aspects of local culture, flora, and fauna. You might just find that an original work of contemporary Fijian art, created on a piece of barkcloth imbued with the mana of ancient traditions, can be an awesome take-home memory of a joy-filled visit to our islands!
Sources of Information
- “COLOURS OF FIJI” Creative Experiences at Sigavou Studios in Nadi Press Release PDF
