Lili fakamanaia

Lili Fakamanaia is made of yellow, red, blue and white raffia and kaniu (coconut tree leaf midribs). Made in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, it took Foufili Halagigie about two months to complete using the tia weaving technique. This lili is just over one metre in diameter; it is the first time Halagigie has worked on something of this size.

The work references magafaoa (family) and has strong connections to the artist’s homeland of Niue. Its colours are those of the Niuean flag. The centre motif is a red hibiscus flower, which the artist interprets as a symbol of beauty and a goal for people to reach their own destiny. The blue motifs represent the Niuean government (based on the Westminster system) which allows a 20-member Niue Legislative Assembly. The six diamonds symbolise the six members of the Niuean government who are elected from the National Registrar, and the 13 smaller designs along the outer edges of the work signify the 13 villages of Niue. Two representatives from the capital of Alofi and one each from the other 12 villages make up the 20-member Niue Legislative Assembly.

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