~ HARD-WORK HEARTBREAK HERITAGE ~

“The themes of my work will no longer languish in the dark…” 

Frances Tapueluelu  

Blak Dot Gallery presents an exhibition of Frances Tapueluelu’s works - produced in Melbourne following a nine-year stint as a social worker in remote outback communities. A formative time during which Tapueluelu was so emotionally, psychologically and physically affected by her job that she completely detached from her creativity. 

Hard-work Hearbreak Heritage is Taueluelu’s response to her experiences. These powerful and moving works include a selection of hand printed textiles, garments and adornments that tackle themes of racism, marginalisation, feminism and identity.

She describes the work as: “… the heartbreak of my time as a social worker; as someone who strives for justice and equality, for the heritage of my culture, faith, family, and the warriors past and present who’ve risked all to continue the fight.”

Frances Tapueluelu’s culturally motivated and often politically-charged works extend from textiles, wearable art and print media to spoken-word performance. A New Zealand-born Tongan, of Vava’u and Nuku’alofa descent, Frances graduated with a degree in Fashion Design, going on to work in the New Zealand fashion and film industries before migrating to Naarm (Melbourne) in 2000 where she is currently based. Her works have featured in numerous exhibitions across Australia and New Zealand and have been added to permanent collections internationally.

Artist Talk & Spoken Word : Saturday 10th November, 1:30-2:30pm

#blakdotgallery @francestapueluelu #hardworkheartbreakheritage