To empower other disabled pasifika youth and raise awareness.
Talofa lava, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Introducing BODIES OF ART, a group of disabled Pasifika youth who were brought together by MacMaya Consulting Limited, thanks to Le Va and the Faiva Ora Community Innovation Fund, to create the track ’Our Narrative’. The track & video aims to empower Pasifika disabled youth and shed more awareness and light on some of their challenges.
“The name ‘Bodies of Art’ transpired from communicating the entire process “virtually,” as in, different bodies contributing to the art. Highlighting that we are simply upcoming artists eager to create works of art to share. Not only are we producing a work of art, but we are art “embodied”. Despite our disabilities we grow through the beauty of creativity.” - Maretta
Maretta Brown, Ziah Fue, Kassi Scarlett and Jayke Homarirangi Hope were all asked to be a part of this project to create the track. Ese Aumalesulu of Tejit Records reached out to each of the individuals.
A couple of the members jumped on the project before knowing what it was fully about and became inspired to contribute when they found out more. With each member of Bodies of Art having a different musical background, this was something different to what they would normally work on and they had to also adapt to the current lockdown situation in Aotearoa, but they were happy to do it.
“As a collective we bring a range of skills, backgrounds and talent combined. This opportunity has enabled us to express our emotions, messages and our narratives with not only our pacific communities but the world.
We worked on every aspect from arranging parts and ideas, to recording individual pieces. I am really proud that in our current circumstances of lockdown, we were able to unite and create positivity and a special message through the gift of music. “ – Maretta
Due to lockdown, a lot of this project was discussed and created via messenger voice communication. The group contributed ideas for themes and Kassi’s recommendation, which became the key theme was “Be part of my story, and not my story. Walk with us and not for us.” The video depicts Kassi Scarlett on a journey in the Auckland CBD with images of the group shown throughout to show it isn’t just one person on this journey or who feels this way.