Fresh Eke (Eke Nui and Babies)

Ani O’Neill is an installation and performance artist renowned for reworking Cook Islands art forms, particularly tīvaevae (quilt making), sewing and crochet, into elaborate installations. In 'Fresh Eke (Eke Nui and Babies'), 2003–04, O’Neill reimagines the eke (octopus), an important sea creature in Rarotongan and broader Pacific oral traditions, where it symbolises migration, kinship and adaptability. Atop a plinth is a large mother eke, accompanied by 45 baby eke floating across the gallery wall – all meticulously crocheted using brightly coloured wool.

While their soft, playful forms resemble cuddly toys, they hold deeper significance. The large eke is filled with discarded plastic water bottles, a subtle critique of the impact of plastic waste on Pacific ecosystems. By weaving customary practices with contemporary concerns, O’Neill’s work highlights the resilience of cultural traditions while engaging with urgent global issues.

– Ane Tonga, Curator, Pacific Art | Kaitiaki, Toi nō Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, 2025

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