FAFSWAG
@fafswag.nz
Critically acclaimed NZ Arts Laureates & Queer Indigenous, Interdisciplinary Arts Collective from the Moana. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau - SOUTH AKL
IG | @FAFSWAG
ARCHIVE | https://www.fafswag.nz/
INTERACTIVE | https://fafswagvogue.com/
IG | @FAFSWAG
ARCHIVE | https://www.fafswag.nz/
INTERACTIVE | https://fafswagvogue.com/
Pinned
FAFSWAG
@fafswag.nz
· Nov 4
Go behind the scenes with acclaimed Arts Collective FAFSWAG, 🤩 We give you an exclusive look at our collaborative practice and the development of our powerful new work, FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, for the Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25).
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
We released this beautiful catalogue of our collective practice after a decade of collaboration in 2023. You can pick one up here.
www.fafswag.nz/mketi/public...
www.fafswag.nz/mketi/public...
December 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
We released this beautiful catalogue of our collective practice after a decade of collaboration in 2023. You can pick one up here.
www.fafswag.nz/mketi/public...
www.fafswag.nz/mketi/public...
Reposted by FAFSWAG
It's an incredible text, one of my favourite to teach! Grateful for your incredible mahi and for making your work so accessible 💙🩵💜
December 6, 2025 at 8:37 AM
It's an incredible text, one of my favourite to teach! Grateful for your incredible mahi and for making your work so accessible 💙🩵💜
This is the whole team that helped us develop and deliver the Fale Sā / Sacred House over two years of international collaboration. With artists based in Auckland NZ, Manchester & London, New York, Sydney & Melbourne Australia, and Apia Samoa.
December 6, 2025 at 8:33 AM
This is the whole team that helped us develop and deliver the Fale Sā / Sacred House over two years of international collaboration. With artists based in Auckland NZ, Manchester & London, New York, Sydney & Melbourne Australia, and Apia Samoa.
5 out of 10 of our members speak their native indigenous languages. 3 out of 10 of our artists have Samoan Chief titles. Our collective is made up of artists & community leaders from Aotearoa, Samoa, Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands. Our artists identify as Takatāpui, Fa'afafine, Akavaine and Trans.
I'll spare their ego's and keep that to myself hahaha, they're alright. lols. I'm just glad not to be the oldest!! The FAFSWAG BQ's serving native savage, coconut pani popo, hina lolo cunt lol
December 6, 2025 at 8:27 AM
5 out of 10 of our members speak their native indigenous languages. 3 out of 10 of our artists have Samoan Chief titles. Our collective is made up of artists & community leaders from Aotearoa, Samoa, Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands. Our artists identify as Takatāpui, Fa'afafine, Akavaine and Trans.
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
December 2, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Thanks for sharing our interactive docu-series with audiences. We're super proud of it. It has definitely stood the test of time. It still looks like it was created yesterday 😊☺️❤️🙏🏽
Third (and final) conference presentation for November this afternoon. I'll be talking briefly about the incredible (and interactive!!) FAFSWAG Vogue documentary. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it's free to access here: fafswagvogue.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Thanks for sharing our interactive docu-series with audiences. We're super proud of it. It has definitely stood the test of time. It still looks like it was created yesterday 😊☺️❤️🙏🏽
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Third (and final) conference presentation for November this afternoon. I'll be talking briefly about the incredible (and interactive!!) FAFSWAG Vogue documentary. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it's free to access here: fafswagvogue.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Third (and final) conference presentation for November this afternoon. I'll be talking briefly about the incredible (and interactive!!) FAFSWAG Vogue documentary. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it's free to access here: fafswagvogue.com
'Tulouna Le Lagi' by Pati Tyrell, commissioned by Circuit NZ in 2022 is now screening as part of our collection of art films entitled Diaspora Rendered. As part of the final exhibition for the year entitled TIDES: Gender Beyond The Binary in Oceania. At the Eastside Cultural Center in Hawaii.
December 6, 2025 at 5:03 AM
'Tulouna Le Lagi' by Pati Tyrell, commissioned by Circuit NZ in 2022 is now screening as part of our collection of art films entitled Diaspora Rendered. As part of the final exhibition for the year entitled TIDES: Gender Beyond The Binary in Oceania. At the Eastside Cultural Center in Hawaii.
Instal pics for our show TIDES: Gender Beyond The Binary in Oceania, at the Eastside Cultural Center in Hawaii. Curated by Andrzej Kramarz. Opening tomorrow night. Please go check it out if you're in the region. Take pics and let us know your thoughts. Xx FAFSWAG
December 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Instal pics for our show TIDES: Gender Beyond The Binary in Oceania, at the Eastside Cultural Center in Hawaii. Curated by Andrzej Kramarz. Opening tomorrow night. Please go check it out if you're in the region. Take pics and let us know your thoughts. Xx FAFSWAG
Reposted by FAFSWAG
So proud of this MQFF award, especially after winning the Letterboxd Pasifika Māori talent award at NZIFF in September. It just means more coming from your own community. I make films for Queer Pacific people. This film is for Queer brown boys from South Auckland. Y'all have my heart for real. ❤️🏆
Congratulations to @tanugago.bsky.social who's short film Picking Crew took the Best International Short Film Award at Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) over the weekend. Congrats to the whole creative team behind the film. What an amazing honour to receive at the end your festival circuit run.
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
So proud of this MQFF award, especially after winning the Letterboxd Pasifika Māori talent award at NZIFF in September. It just means more coming from your own community. I make films for Queer Pacific people. This film is for Queer brown boys from South Auckland. Y'all have my heart for real. ❤️🏆
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Queer Pacific Art in Aotearoa: Tanu Gago | Video Essay
YouTube video by FAFSWAG
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by FAFSWAG
TIDES is my last exhibition for the year. Still very gutted we couldn't make it to Hawai'i for the opening, but if you're in the area, please go check it out. If you know any queers on the island please let them know. It's a beautiful show with a powerful message for Oceania folks. x Tanu & Pati.
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
December 2, 2025 at 4:56 AM
TIDES is my last exhibition for the year. Still very gutted we couldn't make it to Hawai'i for the opening, but if you're in the area, please go check it out. If you know any queers on the island please let them know. It's a beautiful show with a powerful message for Oceania folks. x Tanu & Pati.
No tea no shade. It is what it is. Just for clarity, every dollar went towards sustainability building. We wouldn't be here without the strategic investment. And that's on period!! So shout-out to the 2024 CNZ assessors for that.
I bet the February round of contestable Arts funding for organizations and groups is gonna be a straight up DEATH match. I wonder if it's even worth applying this time. FAFSWAG barely made it over the line last year and we only did tier 1 - $50K spread over 2years of international development.
December 3, 2025 at 4:26 AM
No tea no shade. It is what it is. Just for clarity, every dollar went towards sustainability building. We wouldn't be here without the strategic investment. And that's on period!! So shout-out to the 2024 CNZ assessors for that.
With love and deep condolences to all your loved ones. You will be eternally missed Aunty, Jennifer Lal. Thank you for your incredible contribution to the arts in Aotearoa. Live arts will not be the same without you. x Rest in Love. xx FAFSWAG aiga.
December 2, 2025 at 5:54 PM
With love and deep condolences to all your loved ones. You will be eternally missed Aunty, Jennifer Lal. Thank you for your incredible contribution to the arts in Aotearoa. Live arts will not be the same without you. x Rest in Love. xx FAFSWAG aiga.
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
December 2, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
This year we had a Work-In-Progress-Sharing of Pati Tyrell's new ceremonial work SAUNIGA, at Arts Centre Melbourne. It's been a big Year for FAFSWAG in Melbourne. One of our international producer's Elyssia Wilson-Heti is now currently based there full time. Keen to see more of Naarm in the future.
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This year we had a Work-In-Progress-Sharing of Pati Tyrell's new ceremonial work SAUNIGA, at Arts Centre Melbourne. It's been a big Year for FAFSWAG in Melbourne. One of our international producer's Elyssia Wilson-Heti is now currently based there full time. Keen to see more of Naarm in the future.
Tea Break Tales is casting their next campaign. Get in touch if you have a story to tell. It's a paid opportunity for successful applicants. Details in the Image. Get it your life!!!
November 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Tea Break Tales is casting their next campaign. Get in touch if you have a story to tell. It's a paid opportunity for successful applicants. Details in the Image. Get it your life!!!
Congratulations to @tanugago.bsky.social who's short film Picking Crew took the Best International Short Film Award at Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) over the weekend. Congrats to the whole creative team behind the film. What an amazing honour to receive at the end your festival circuit run.
November 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Congratulations to @tanugago.bsky.social who's short film Picking Crew took the Best International Short Film Award at Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) over the weekend. Congrats to the whole creative team behind the film. What an amazing honour to receive at the end your festival circuit run.
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Fale Sā / Sacred House - SAUNIGA - REVIEW
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
November 4, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Fale Sā / Sacred House - SAUNIGA - REVIEW
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
Reposted by FAFSWAG
FAFSWAG artist @tanugago.bsky.social created this video essay for a digital workshop series in 2022 for ImagineNATIVE Digital Film & Media Arts Festival, as a cultural exchange for indigenous artists from around the world. Check out 'Rendering Queer Moana Arts Histories' youtu.be/C8jEJfX1RIs?...
Queer Pacific Art in Aotearoa: Tanu Gago | Video Essay
YouTube video by FAFSWAG
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
FAFSWAG artist @tanugago.bsky.social created this video essay for a digital workshop series in 2022 for ImagineNATIVE Digital Film & Media Arts Festival, as a cultural exchange for indigenous artists from around the world. Check out 'Rendering Queer Moana Arts Histories' youtu.be/C8jEJfX1RIs?...
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Go behind the scenes with acclaimed Arts Collective FAFSWAG, 🤩 We give you an exclusive look at our collaborative practice and the development of our powerful new work, FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, for the Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25).
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
November 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Go behind the scenes with acclaimed Arts Collective FAFSWAG, 🤩 We give you an exclusive look at our collaborative practice and the development of our powerful new work, FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, for the Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25).
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
It's always sad to see talented folks leave the arts. Sadly Jacob Tamata's piece for the Pacific Dance Festival entitled Bionica was his last. Produced by us but isn't a FAFSWAG work. Meaning we don't own the IP. But it did feature our artists at the time, and digital production design by Tanu Gago.
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
It's always sad to see talented folks leave the arts. Sadly Jacob Tamata's piece for the Pacific Dance Festival entitled Bionica was his last. Produced by us but isn't a FAFSWAG work. Meaning we don't own the IP. But it did feature our artists at the time, and digital production design by Tanu Gago.
For queer Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, colonisation is not simply the entirety of our known history. It's the root of ongoing systemic barriers and collisions. We honour the ancestors and fight for sovereignty and visibility.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
November 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
For queer Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, colonisation is not simply the entirety of our known history. It's the root of ongoing systemic barriers and collisions. We honour the ancestors and fight for sovereignty and visibility.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
Part of Photo24, this collection of Queer Indigenous artist portraits was on display outside The Substation in Melbourne. Love these works from local First Nations and Pasifika artists. I just wish the festival had made their info more obvious, cause we didn't manage to find the artists credits.
November 19, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Part of Photo24, this collection of Queer Indigenous artist portraits was on display outside The Substation in Melbourne. Love these works from local First Nations and Pasifika artists. I just wish the festival had made their info more obvious, cause we didn't manage to find the artists credits.
A personal thread from Samoan Interdisciplinary artist Tanu Gago, Chronicling the time and space journey of his deeply personal art work and short film - APPARATUS. Hear from the artists own experiences, about the making of this work and it's journey with global audiences.
I should probably update my grief films, now that both my parents are in the ground. Apparatus was defiantly an attempt at breaking generational curses. It might be time to let it all go... Thinking of just releasing this film from 2018 online. It's been shown in so many places around the world.
November 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
A personal thread from Samoan Interdisciplinary artist Tanu Gago, Chronicling the time and space journey of his deeply personal art work and short film - APPARATUS. Hear from the artists own experiences, about the making of this work and it's journey with global audiences.