Transcript
An art exhibition in Hawkes Bay has been inspired by the stories and life experiences of migrant workers and other workers from the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
30-year-old New Zealand born Tongan artist, John Vea, says his exhibition pieces highlight some of the challenging issues migrant workers face while in New Zealand.
Mr Vea told Indira Moala, the theme of the exhibition was inspired by his late father who helped him build his first sculpture using wooden pallets.
JOHN VEA: It started off with my father. He worked in a factory - and you know he worked a lot of jobs. He worked for Fletcher Fisheries out in the waterfront here. And so, spending time with him and experiencing that work...and not just him as well, my Uncles back in Tonga, watching them work in the plantations and how they get in to this - or hypnotize into this trance or this repetition of work where you do this thing everyday.
INDIRA MOALA: Did you talk to them about how it felt?
JV: Well, especially with Pacific men, it's pretty hard to communicate and it's always short conversations and you know, Pacific men are just I guess, stubborn and don't like communicating or sharing feelings.
IM: Apart from your own personal connections, were there other migrant workers that you got to hear their stories or talk to while you were creating your artwork?
JV: Yeah, so there were migrant workers that had just finished their season
IM: Is that from the RSE scheme?
JV: Yes, the RSE scheme. And so, just hearing all their stories.
