Urban Pacific
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at Randolph Street Gallery, Tamaki Makau Rau, Aotearoa, March 2007
Marlaina Key
Samoan
Marlaina appropriates photographic images from popular
movies such as
The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory. These movies are a reminder of seemingly innocent family
enjoyment gathered in front of the television. Into these selected movie
stills, Marlaina inserts images of members of her family, substituting
the
stars of the film with her own subjects. The resulting images are
printed large, referencing movie posters and framed within a domestic
photographic language. In So Long Farewell, the Samoan girl replacing
Julie
Andrews is not exuding an explicit political stance of occupation, she
seems to be genuinely embracing her moment in the sun, positioning the
work in a complex place between celebration, social politics and
sentiment.
So long, farewell
Marlaina Key
Pink
macaroons and a million balloons 2007
Digital print, framed
42 cm x 60cm
Private collection