Kindred is an exhibition that delves into the intertwined familial bonds and ancestral connections of sisters Linda Va’aelua and Alison Leauanae, reflecting their mixed Sāmoan, Scottish, and English heritage. Through abstract motifs, the artists narrate stories of migration and navigation, tracing journeys across oceans to lands of opportunity and prosperity.
Va’aelua employs materials such as paint and wool on hessian, drawing inspiration from traditional Sāmoan siapo (tapa cloth) patterns and Scottish iconography. Her works, including "Chapter 1" (2023), reimagine royal banners by integrating Pacific motifs like mauga (mountains) and semi-circle designs representing the sun. This fusion symbolises her navigation through a hybrid cultural identity, reflecting both her Sāmoan lineage and Scottish ancestry.
Leauanae's practice involves meticulously hand-stitching cotton thread into paper, creating symbols that reference both Sāmoan and Scottish cultures. Her "Pasese – Echoes of Home" series (2023) draws from the analogue era of bus tickets, using their unique hole-punched shapes to explore themes of migration and the commute. By assigning each shape a letter, she develops a cryptic alphanumeric code depicting the migrant experience, reflecting on the journey and the barriers encountered in foreign surroundings.
The contrasting styles of Va’aelua and Leauanae—one utilising paint and wool on hessian, the other thread stitched into paper—offer a compelling narrative about shared histories viewed through unique perspectives. Their works collectively present a powerful image of what it means to be kindred, intertwining personal and collective histories within the broader context of migration and cultural identity.
