Leilani Kake (born 1976) is a New Zealand videographer and artist. Her artistic practice has expanded over time to involve a variety of both practical and educational roles nationally and internationally.
Family background She was born in Rotorua, but lived in Papua New Guinea as a child, and later settled in Ōtara, Auckland, although other sources suggest she is based in Ōtāhuhu, South Auckland.
Career It is suggested that her artistic career in video-based mediums began in the early 2000s. Her extensive academic background informed and built her practice starting with her Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2002 from the Manukau School of Visual Arts (University of Auckland), and then progressing with her Certificate in Level 1 Te Ara Māori in 2003 with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, her Post Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts in 2005 with the Manukau School of Visual Arts (University of Auckland), her Diploma of Māori Language Fluency in 2019 with Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, and her Master of Fine Arts with Elam School of Fine Arts.
Kake originally focused her work around video installations but this has evolved into multi-media work and her role as curator, educator and public speaker. Through portrayal of themes such as whakapapa, processes of change, and centring Indigenous stories, Kake has exhibited both nationally with Auckland Art Gallery, City Gallery Wellington, and Fresh Gallery Ōtara, and internationally in Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Taiwan, and the United States.
A timeline of her roles 2000: Assistant Camera Operator for Shiva Gajan Festival, India for Manukau School of Visual Arts 2000: Intern and Model for Lisa Reihana's "Digital Marae" series 2003-2005: Camera Operator/Production Assistant for Tangata Whenua Television Ltd 2006: Videographer for the Department of Maori Studies at the University of Auckland 2007-2008: Performing Arts Co-ordinator at Ōtāhuhu College 2007: Project Coordinator for Niu Life: Manukau's Pacific People for Manukau City Council 2008: Moving Image Tutor for Te Tari o Mātauranga Māori at Manukau Institute of Technology 2009: Researcher for Te Aratai Productions 2010: Contextual Studies Lecturer at Manukau School of Visual Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology 2015: Gallery Coordinator for Papakura Art Gallery
Exhibitions +Group exhibitionsDateTitlePeopleMediumLocationSource2001Red Earth Project - - - - - - Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, Auckland2004South Contained Unit - - - - - - ArtNet Gallery, Auckland2006Launch Exhibition - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2006(Re)Locating Home - - - - - - Alliance Française de Suva, Fiji / Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2006What's Going On - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2007Fresh Gallery Ōtara turns 1! - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2007Longitude - - - - - - The Art Studio, Rarotonga, Cook Islands2007Ka'apai nuku, Ka'apai rangi - Lift the universe, lift the heavens - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2008 I Te Marama - Into the Light - - - - - - Nathan Homestead, Auckland2008Meat & Lollies - - - - - - Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2009Le Folauga - - - - - -Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan2009Pan Pacific Nation - - - - - -Marks Garage, Honolulu, Hawaii2010Native Coconut - - - - - -Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland2010manu toi; artists and messengers - - - - - -Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku7 July - 22 October 2012Home AKLEdith Amituanai, Graham Fletcher, Tanu Gago, Foufili Halagigie, Niki Hastings-McFall, Louisa Humphry, Lonnie Hutchinson, Ioane Ioane, Leilani Kake, Lakiloko Keakea, Shigeyuki Kihara, Kolokesa Kulīkefu, Jeremy Leatinu'u, Andy Leleisi'uao, Janet Lilo, Joana Monolagi, Ani O'Neill, Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine, John Pule, Greg Semu, Siliga David Setoga, Paul Tangata, Angela Tiatia, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, Teuane Tibbo, Hūlita Tupou, Jim Vivieaere, and Kaetaeta WatsonMulti-media Pacific Contemporary artAuckland Art Gallery10-31 January 2015Between Wind and WaterLeilani Kake, Luisa Tora, and Tanu GagoVideo and multi-media installationEnjoy Contemporary Art Space9 March - 1 April 2017Swallow series in The Perpetual Flux of Transitional OthernessLeilani Kake, and othersFive digital printsOlly, Mt Eden, AucklandDecember 2019Woman of Colour in Finding Emory: A Poster ShowCypris Afakasi, Tanu Gago, Leilani Kake, Sean Kerrigan, Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho, Rebecca Ann Hobbs, Siliga David Setoga and Tokerau WilsonPoster/Digital ImageVunilagi VouAugust 2022Putiputi in Vunilagi Vou's new site openingNigel Borell, Ercan Cairns, Chris van Doren, Dr Sione Faletau, Antonio Filipo, Tanu Gago, Leilani Kake, and Niutuiatua Lemalu.VideoVunilagi Vou, East Tāmaki site, South Auckland
Home AKL This exhibition was significant for its contributions of contemporary Pacific arts for the first group show of its kind shown in Auckland Art Gallery. The show was curated by the gallery's senior curator of New Zealand and Pacific Art, Ron Brownson, Julia Waite, Fresh Gallery Ōtara's Ema Tavola, Nina Tonga, and Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai. As mentioned previously over 20 artists got involved in the exhibition, with both emerging and established artists mostly residing in Auckland but coming from varying backgrounds having the opportunity to showcase a range of works. All united by key thematics of what home can represent, mediums of the works include painting, sculpture, photography, videography, adornment pieces, gallery collection items from Auckland Art Gallery, and a total of 13 new commissions by multiple artists. Alongside the exhibition other events were run by the gallery and artists such as family-friendly events, artist talks and opportunities for community gathering and knowledge sharing. A publication in the form of an exhibition catalogue was also released in 2012 by the gallery entitled Home AKL: Artists of Pacific Heritage in Auckland. +Solo exhibitionsDateTitleMediumLocationSource2004Te Kirihaehae/The Cutting of the SkinMulti-monitored video performance installation involving two tonnes of sandŌtara Community Courtyard, Auckland2007ArikiSingle channel, PAL video format (5min 54sec)Auckland Art Gallery2008Ariki/Talking Tivaevae - - - MIC Toi Rerehiko Media and Interdisciplinary Arts Centre2009Get Up Stand UpPerformancede Young Museum of Fine Arts, San Francisco2009Tino Rangatira Tanga - - - Corban Estate Arts Centre3 April 2010 - 13 June 2010Leilani Kake: Tino Rangatira TangaFilmDeane Gallery, City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi2011Ngā Hau E Whā - The Four WindsFour channel video installationAuckland Arts Festival 2011, Fresh Gallery Ōtara 4 March - 16 April 20112018Mata ArikiVideo - - -
Projects
1998: Te Whakatupuranga - Whakawhanaungatanga. This commission, in collaboration with Ngapuhi carver Pat Kake, resulted in a permanent standing multi-media install for the Environmental Risk Management Authority's Wellington office. 2006: Minimal - Baroque. She was commissioned on as a videographer for an art residency project by Juan Castillo, exhibited at Fresh Gallery Ōtara and St Paul St Gallery Auckland. 2007: Reflections. A video-based commission piece for composer Opeloge Ah Sam, for the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre Auckland. 2017: Pacific Bodies: Ema Tavola and Leilani Kake. An interview/conversation between the two artists in response to The Body Laid Bare: Masterpieces from Tate at Auckland Art Gallery. 2018: A Maternal Lens x Tales from Water Margins - a curatorial project for the 4th International Biennale of Casablanca, funded by Creative New Zealand. The project included work by the following artists: Margaret Aull, Leilani Kake, Julia Mage'au Gray, Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, and Vaimaila Urale. +Panels/talksDateTitleRoleLocationSource2008Pacific Island Media Association ConferencePresenterAUT, Auckland2009Urban Pacific Art from AotearoaPresenterCollege Art Association Conference, California, USA2009 - - -Guest speakerCenter for Race and Gender, University of California Berkeley, California, USA2009 - - -Guest speakerUniversity of California Santa Cruz, California, USA2009 - - -Guest speakerMarks Garage, Honolulu, HawaiiNovember 2010Appearance on Tagata Pasifika [TVNZ]TV appearanceTVNZ15 January 2015Artist Talk: Leilani KakeSpeakerEnjoy Contemporary Art Space In 2013 alongside Ema Tavola, Kake was invited to speak at the Pacific Art Association's 11th International Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. The two artists received the opportunity after their successful panel in 2009 to the Pacific Islands Students Association at Berkeley University in Los Angeles, and later lectures throughout multiple Californian universities when invited to speak at one of the most significant visual arts events in the US, the 97th College Arts Association Annual Conference. Kake and Tavola organised a fundraising campaign called 2 Girls, 1 Conference where they sold t-shirts and ran an art auction to raise the funds to travel to and present at the conference.
Awards
2007 winner of ARTsource from the Arts Regional Trust. 2008 Salamander Gallery Emerging Artist Award at Creative New Zealand's Arts Pasifika Awards.
References
External links
Leilani Kake Interview on Tino Rangatira Tanga at City Gallery Wellington, 2010 - RNZ