Postcards Unlocked #1  | Katharine Losi Atafu-Mayo

The physical and spiritual parts of her activations are attempts at healing the pain of colonisation that our ancestors and we as a Moana community have inherited.

Katharine Losi Atafu-Mayo uses art as a tool to inform, spark change and remediate. Katharine’s practice explores and promotes healing using indigenous and creative methodologies. Her work questions some of the systematic oppressions that have been injected into our Moana cultures, whilst using our ancient knowledge to create an alternative way of operating and living in our everyday. Her work includes moving image, installation, workshops and poetry. However, she is best known for ceremonial rituals based on intuitive activation.

Throughout her practice, she implements indigenous Moana beliefs by honouring how these beliefs have the power to influence and improve how we move in this world.

As a kaupapa led practice, every decision made has an important significance and purpose. Katherine does this whilst acknowledging her identity as a tauiwi settler in Aotearoa. The physical and spiritual parts of her activations are attempts at healing the pain of colonisation that our ancestors and we, as a Moana community, have inherited.

The 'Postcards Unlocked' Project featured 40 artists over 40 days via Tautai’s social media platforms as we navigated new waters during the 2020 Aotearoa Lockdown.

Learn more about the project here.