"1 in 4 Pacific Adults (15 years and older) are current smokers" (New Zealand Health Survey)

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According to the New Zealand Health Survey in 2013, about one in four Pacific Adults - 15 years and older - were current smokers.

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In order to understand the severity and horrific truth behind this statistic, one must understand the factors which lured many Pacific adults into using tobacco, casually. Factors include domestic violence, poor living standards, parents parting ways, being neglected, amongst many negative experiences gone through a Pacific Islander’s lifestyle in New Zealand. Cigarettes were a coping mechanism for many Pacific Islanders in New Zealand - an escape route to rid of the troubles they were facing in the reality they were up against.

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I chose to represent the Pacific people through the Tapa cloth - as I believe was the best representation for the Pacific Islanders; Polynesian community. The use of cultural patterns were my intentions to convey the Pacific people. I also filtered the canvas to make it more grainy and give it that “charcoal” look, to add a more authentic Pacific feel - the rough Tapa Cloth material.

 

The GIF reveals a fourth Tapa Cloth being set on fire. This I implied to show the “one percenter” that represents the smokers within the Pacific Adults sector in New Zealand.

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Although the GIF is simplistic, the symbolism and meaning behind why I chose to go with this approach was meaningful. Tapa Cloth was one of many items used by Polynesians to wield fire - in wherever they navigated through; the pacific ocean, through forests, within their villages; fire was everything. Tapa Cloth was a luxury and essential tool. Over the years, Tapa Cloth became a luxury, being treated as a gift item. Owning Tapa Cloths was a way to show one was wealthy - in the Samoan Culture.

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Fast forward to now - it seems that this cultural significance is being set ablaze by that same element that my ancestors have used as a “compass”, to now - a Tapa Cloth slowly degrading and wearing down by that dangerous light which is used to light up a cigarette within the Pacific Communities.