"Some of my family members did not approve of my tattoos and I wanted to reflect the huge amount of disapproval that comes within families and the shame that someone can bring to their family within Polynesian communities.
The slap represents the ongoing results of the impact, the literal impact of the slap starts to welt and swell over time to highlighting the enduring of ones shame."
Slap (2012)
Ngā ataata nā Darcell ApeluOther works by Darcell Apelu
Darcell Apelu
One Day I Will Come Back to You (2019)
Apelu explores the mythology surrounding Hine-nui-te-pō, the daughter of the god Tāne.
Darcell Apelu
'I was an innocent island boy until your mother came along'... (2019)
A homage to the defence reaction of the Niuean people to defend itself from the threat of infection.
He tuhinga roa anōRelated essay
10 Works from NZ Female Artists You Might Have Missed
10 Works from NZ Female Artists You Might Have Missed
EssayTuhinga roa
A collection of ten works by women from CIRCUIT's catalogue.