Help us raise funds to make our short documentary - Taonga - An Artist Activist - Mike Tavioni

The short documentary looks at a small part of Mike’s extensive life story and is a sequence

of conversations with our Cook Islands living legend Artist Mike Tavioni. where he provides us

with his story on why he had to build his own Gallery Tavioni and Vananga – Art School and

what drives him. Sitting with Mike at any time is an adventure into the mind of creative genius. For many in the art world across the Pacific he is admired for his carving, visual arts, poetry and unwavering commitment to his own beliefs and processes. When Mike speaks the storytelling naturally unfolds. We will sit with him at his Gallery Tavioni - Vananga and Art school, his home for

aspiring Cook Islands and International artists to learn from him and give him the space and

time to relay the important story of why his Art school became the project of his life.

For me as a New Zealand born Cook Island Creative throughout my career Mike Tavioni has been the artist from the Cook Islands that myself and many Pacific Islanders revere and refer to for his insight, skill and bravery not only as an artist but as a provocateur and activist. Early in my career writing and directing plays Mike’s spoken word and his recordings of those had an impact on me. His low

murmuring voice in an audible context delivered his words in a way that was at times hard to decipher but once you understood his patter revealed poetic phrases of beauty, statement and story. His Art was not like the standard Pacific artists and clashed or pushed the boundary of what was expected of art from the Pacific region in the 80’s 90’sand-2000’s.

Mike Tavioni is now in his early 70’s and has over his lifetime lived to create art. His thirst for artistic experience is a life force for him. He is unrelenting in the pursuit of his own arts fulfillment at a cost to his own financial stability and safety. Mike has the respect of our community but for some they cannot comprehend why he forfeits the luxuries they cherish for the pursuit of his own

artistic craving.

The reality is that his story, especially the reasons behind his need to build his own Gallery and Art

School is not widely known nor has he been filmed often to relay his own story in his own words.

Gallery Tavioni is so very important to him. Mike is fearsome for some and uncompromising when it

comes to what he believes in. Mike has over the years shared his writing with me asking for advice or

to just sit and talk over stories he has. I have had the honor of interviewing him several times for articles for Escape magazine, he is not only a friend but an artistic reference point for me and many other creative people in the Cook Islands and the wider Pacific.

Many may fear him, think he is crazy, misunderstand him but it cannot be denied that Mike Tavioni is our Cook Islands Arts Godfather! I have spoken to Mike over the past year about my desire to film him capturing the wild and wonderful stories he has of his life. He knows this is the time for him to open up to being the topic, the art within the art. This project would be the first contribution to that.

We just have to be real about things, he is getting older and in these uncertain times if he is not captured on film now we may miss this opportunity. This project for me is a day of reckoning, for so long I have heard people herald Mike as the great artist but often when he seeks support they turn away. He has a loyal base of artists and friends who support him but the true significance of Mike Tavion’s influence on the Arts community in the Pacific is still not fully recognised or recorded.

Mike’s life story is a journey of art, his connection to artistic expression in all its forms is what

wakes him up in the morning and sees him retire to bed late at night. A renowned Master

Carver and Vaka builder, Painter and Poet. Mike’s connection with art is as important to him

as breathing is to life. He experiments and pushes boundaries when others will remain cautious. He provokes and questions the status quo always seeking knowledge and answers to

questions that others may be too conservative to ask.

Mikes Gallery and Arts school was opened in November 2018 and has forged ahead to bring

school’s programs, exhibitions, workshops and artist mentoring to life. This Documentary is about recording a living legend and honoring the brilliance of Mike Tavioni.