Under the Southern Stars is a collection of texts that accompanied exhibitions curated by Artistic Director Gabriela Salgado at Te Tuhi, from 2017 to 2020. The scope of these texts is expansive, from Familiar Grounds, artist Sosefina Andy’s writing on her commissioned installation, which considers the knowledge intergenerationally shared through craft practices, to Kimsooja’s A Needle Woman text, a personal reflection on stillness which contextualises her internationally renowned performance video series. Written by Salgado and selected artists, the texts, quotes and poems hinge on a connection to place: within Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific) and countries with similar colonial legacies. They extend the dialogue prompted by the artworks, build new relationships, and refuse to ignore difficult histories and contemporary politics. Most are previously unpublished, and coexist in the space of the publication as a means for these conversations to continue connecting with a wide audience.
