Leilani Kake

Leilani Kake
Born1976 (age 49–50)
Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
EducationBachelor of Visual Arts (2002) from Manukau School of Visual Arts (University of Auckland), Certificate in Level 1 Te Ara Māori (2003) with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Post Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts (2005) with Manukau School of Visual Arts (University of Auckland), Diploma of Māori Language Fluency (2019) with Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, Master of Fine Arts with Elam School of Fine Arts
Parents

Leilani Kake (born 1976)[1] is a videographer and artist of Ngāpuhi, Tainui Waikato, Rakahanga-Manihiki (Cook Islands),[2] and Caucasian American[3] descent from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her artistic practice has expanded over time to involve a variety of both practical and educational roles nationally and internationally.[4]

Family background

She was born in Rotorua,[2] but lived in Papua New Guinea as a child, and later settled in Ōtara, Auckland,[3] although other sources suggest she is based in Ōtāhuhu, South Auckland.[5]

Career

It is suggested that her artistic career in video-based mediums began in the early 2000s.[2] Her extensive academic background informed and built her practice starting with her Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2002 from the Manukau School of Visual Arts (University of Auckland)[4], and then progressing with her Certificate in Level 1 Te Ara Māori in 2003 with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa,[4] her Post Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts in 2005 with the Manukau School of Visual Arts (University of Auckland),[4] her Diploma of Māori Language Fluency in 2019 with Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa,[2] and her Master of Fine Arts with Elam School of Fine Arts.[2]

Kake originally focused her work around video installations[2] but this has evolved into multi-media work and her role as curator, educator[2] and public speaker. Through portrayal of themes such as whakapapa, processes of change, and centring Indigenous stories,[2] Kake has exhibited both nationally with Auckland Art Gallery, City Gallery Wellington, and Fresh Gallery Ōtara, and internationally in Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Taiwan, and the United States.[5]

A timeline of her roles:

  • 2000: Assistant Camera Operator for Shiva Gajan Festival, India for Manukau School of Visual Arts[4]
  • 2000: Intern and Model for Lisa Reihana's "Digital Marae" series[4]
  • 2003-2005: Camera Operator/Production Assistant for Tangata Whenua Television Ltd[4]
  • 2006: Videographer for the Department of Maori Studies at the University of Auckland[4]
  • 2007-2008: Performing Arts Co-ordinator at Ōtāhuhu College[4]
  • 2007: Project Coordinator for Niu Life: Manukau's Pacific People for Manukau City Council[4]
  • 2008: Moving Image Tutor for Te Tari o Mātauranga Māori at Manukau Institute of Technology[4]
  • 2009: Researcher for Te Aratai Productions[4]
  • 2010: Contextual Studies Lecturer at Manukau School of Visual Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology[4]
  • 2015: Gallery Coordinator for Papakura Art Gallery[6]

Exhibitions

Group exhibitions
Date Title People Medium Location Source
2001 Red Earth Project - - - - - - Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, Auckland [4]
2004 South Contained Unit - - - - - - ArtNet Gallery, Auckland [4]
2006 Launch Exhibition - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2006 (Re)Locating Home - - - - - - Alliance Française de Suva, Fiji / Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2006 What's Going On - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2007 Fresh Gallery Ōtara turns 1! - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2007 Longitude - - - - - - The Art Studio, Rarotonga, Cook Islands [4]
2007 Ka'apai nuku, Ka'apai rangi - Lift the universe, lift the heavens - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2008 I Te Marama - Into the Light - - - - - - Nathan Homestead, Auckland [4]
2008 Meat & Lollies - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2009 Le Folauga - - - - - - Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan [4]
2009 Pan Pacific Nation - - - - - - Marks Garage, Honolulu, Hawaii [4]
2010 Native Coconut - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland [4]
2010 manu toi; artists and messengers - - - - - - Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku [4]
7 July - 22 October 2012 Home AKL Edith Amituanai, Graham Fletcher, Tanu Gago, Foufili Halagigie, Niki Hastings-McFall, Louisa Humphry, Lonnie Hutchinson, Ioane Ioane, Leilani Kake, Lakiloko Keakea, Shigeyuki Kihara, Kolokesa Kulīkefu, Jeremy Leatinu'u, Andy Leleisi'uao, Janet Lilo, Joana Monolagi, Ani O'Neill, Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine, John Pule, Greg Semu, Siliga David Setoga, Paul Tangata, Angela Tiatia, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, Teuane Tibbo, Hūlita Tupou, Jim Vivieaere, and Kaetaeta Watson Multi-media Pacific Contemporary art Auckland Art Gallery [7][8]
10-31 January 2015 Between Wind and Water Leilani Kake, Luisa Tora, and Tanu Gago Video and multi-media installation Enjoy Contemporary Art Space [9]
9 March - 1 April 2017 Swallow series in The Perpetual Flux of Transitional Otherness Leilani Kake, and others Five digital prints Olly, Mt Eden, Auckland [10]
December 2019 Woman of Colour in Finding Emory: A Poster Show Cypris Afakasi, Tanu Gago, Leilani Kake, Sean Kerrigan, Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho, Rebecca Ann Hobbs, Siliga David Setoga and Tokerau Wilson Poster/Digital Image Vunilagi Vou [11]
August 2022 Putiputi in Vunilagi Vou's new site opening Nigel Borell, Ercan Cairns, Chris van Doren, Dr Sione Faletau, Antonio Filipo, Tanu Gago, Leilani Kake, and Niutuiatua Lemalu. Video Vunilagi Vou, East Tāmaki site, South Auckland [11]

Home AKL

This exhibition was significant for its contributions of contemporary Pacific arts for the first group show of its kind shown in Auckland Art Gallery.[8] The show was curated by the gallery's senior curator of New Zealand and Pacific Art, Ron Brownson, Julia Waite, Fresh Gallery Ōtara's Ema Tavola, Nina Tonga, and Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai.[8] As mentioned previously over 20 artists got involved in the exhibition, with both emerging and established artists mostly residing in Auckland but coming from varying backgrounds having the opportunity to showcase a range of works.[8] All united by key thematics of what home can represent, mediums of the works include painting, sculpture, photography, videography, adornment pieces, gallery collection items from Auckland Art Gallery, and a total of 13 new commissions by multiple artists.[8] Alongside the exhibition other events were run by the gallery and artists such as family-friendly events, artist talks and opportunities for community gathering and knowledge sharing.[8] A publication in the form of an exhibition catalogue was also released in 2012 by the gallery entitled Home AKL: Artists of Pacific Heritage in Auckland.[12]

Solo exhibitions
Date Title Medium Location Source
2004 Te Kirihaehae/The Cutting of the Skin Multi-monitored video performance installation involving two tonnes of sand Ōtara Community Courtyard, Auckland [4]
2007 Ariki Single channel, PAL video format (5min 54sec) Auckland Art Gallery [13]
2008 Ariki/Talking Tivaevae - - - MIC Toi Rerehiko Media and Interdisciplinary Arts Centre [4]
2009 Get Up Stand Up Performance de Young Museum of Fine Arts, San Francisco [4]
2009 Tino Rangatira Tanga - - - Corban Estate Arts Centre [4]
3 April 2010 - 13 June 2010 Leilani Kake: Tino Rangatira Tanga Film Deane Gallery, City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi [14][4]
2011 Ngā Hau E Whā - The Four Winds Four channel video installation Auckland Arts Festival 2011, Fresh Gallery Ōtara 4 March - 16 April 2011 [15]
2018 Mata Ariki Video - - - [5]

Projects

  • 1998: Te Whakatupuranga - Whakawhanaungatanga. This commission, in collaboration with Ngapuhi carver Pat Kake, resulted in a permanent standing multi-media install for the Environmental Risk Management Authority's Wellington office.[4]
  • 2006: Minimal - Baroque. She was commissioned on as a videographer for an art residency project by Juan Castillo, exhibited at Fresh Gallery Ōtara and St Paul St Gallery Auckland.[4]
  • 2007: Reflections. A video-based commission piece for composer Opeloge Ah Sam, for the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre Auckland.[4]
  • 2017: Pacific Bodies: Ema Tavola and Leilani Kake. A interview/conversation between the two artists in response to The Body Laid Bare: Masterpieces from Tate at Auckland Art Gallery.[16]
  • 2018:[17] A Maternal Lens x Tales from Water Margins - a curatorial project for the 4th International Biennale of Casablanca, funded by Creative New Zealand.[18] The project included work by the following artists: Margaret Aull, Leilani Kake, Julia Mage'au Gray, Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, and Vaimaila Urale.[18]
Panels/talks
Date Title Role Location Source
2008 Pacific Island Media Association Conference Presenter AUT, Auckland [4]
2009 Urban Pacific Art from Aotearoa Presenter College Art Association Conference, California, USA [4]
2009 - - - Guest speaker Center for Race and Gender, University of California Berkeley, California, USA [4]
2009 - - - Guest speaker University of California Santa Cruz, California, USA [4]
2009 - - - Guest speaker Marks Garage, Honolulu, Hawaii [4]
November 2010 Appearance on Tagata Pasifika [TVNZ] TV appearance TVNZ [4]
15 January 2015 Artist Talk: Leilani Kake Speaker Enjoy Contemporary Art Space [19]

In 2013 alongside Ema Tavola, Kake was invited to speak at the Pacific Art Association's 11th International Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. The two artists received the opportunity after their successful panel in 2009 to the Pacific Islands Students Association at Berkeley University in Los Angeles, and later lectures throughout multiple Californian universities when invited to speak at one of the most significant visual arts events in the US, the 97th College Arts Association Annual Conference. Kake and Tavola organised a fundraising campaign called 2 Girls, 1 Conference where they sold t-shirts and ran an art auction to raise the funds to travel to and present at the conference. [20]

Awards

  • 2007 winner of ARTsource from the Arts Regional Trust.[4]
  • 2008 Salamander Gallery Emerging Artist Award at Creative New Zealand's Arts Pasifika Awards.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Leilani Kake". A Maternal Lens. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Leilani Kake". Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b "A life honoured through the lens | Scoop News". Scoop News. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq "Artist Info". Ngā Hau E Whā - The Four Winds. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "Leilani Kake". A Maternal Lens. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Between Wind and Water Artists | Enjoy Contemporary Art Space". enjoy.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  7. ^ Chartwell. "Home AKL". The Chartwell Project. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Past Exhibition | Home AKL". Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Between Wind and Water | Enjoy Contemporary Art Space". enjoy.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Swallow series by #LeilaniKake". PIMPI KNOWS. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Leilani Kake". vunilagivou.com. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Home AKL: Artists of Pacific Heritage in Auckland". Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Ariki". Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Leilani Kake: Tino Rangatira Tanga". City Gallery. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  15. ^ "About". Ngā Hau E Whā - The Four Winds. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Pacific Bodies: Ema Tavola and Leilani Kake". Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Biennale Internationale de Casablanca". www.biennalecasablanca.ma. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Leilani Kake". PIMPI KNOWS. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  19. ^ "Artist Talk: Leilani Kake | Enjoy Contemporary Art Space". enjoy.org.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  20. ^ Evans, Adrian (4 June 2013). "2 girls aim for conference". Stuff. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.