FAFSWAG
@fafswag.nz
Critically acclaimed NZ Arts Laureates & Queer Indigenous, Interdisciplinary Arts Collective from the Moana. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau - SOUTH AKL
IG | @FAFSWAG
ARCHIVE | https://www.fafswag.nz/
INTERACTIVE | https://fafswagvogue.com/
IG | @FAFSWAG
ARCHIVE | https://www.fafswag.nz/
INTERACTIVE | https://fafswagvogue.com/
Pinned
FAFSWAG
@fafswag.nz
· Nov 4
Go behind the scenes with acclaimed Arts Collective FAFSWAG, 🤩 We give you an exclusive look at our collaborative practice and the development of our powerful new work, FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, for the Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25).
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Reposted by FAFSWAG
So proud of this MQFF award, especially after winning the Letterboxd Pasifika Māori talent award at NZIFF in September. It just means more coming from your own community. I make films for Queer Pacific people. This film is for Queer brown boys from South Auckland. Y'all have my heart for real. ❤️🏆
Congratulations to @tanugago.bsky.social who's short film Picking Crew took the Best International Short Film Award at Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) over the weekend. Congrats to the whole creative team behind the film. What an amazing honour to receive at the end your festival circuit run.
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
So proud of this MQFF award, especially after winning the Letterboxd Pasifika Māori talent award at NZIFF in September. It just means more coming from your own community. I make films for Queer Pacific people. This film is for Queer brown boys from South Auckland. Y'all have my heart for real. ❤️🏆
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Queer Pacific Art in Aotearoa: Tanu Gago | Video Essay
YouTube video by FAFSWAG
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by FAFSWAG
TIDES is my last exhibition for the year. Still very gutted we couldn't make it to Hawai'i for the opening, but if you're in the area, please go check it out. If you know any queers on the island please let them know. It's a beautiful show with a powerful message for Oceania folks. x Tanu & Pati.
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
December 2, 2025 at 4:56 AM
TIDES is my last exhibition for the year. Still very gutted we couldn't make it to Hawai'i for the opening, but if you're in the area, please go check it out. If you know any queers on the island please let them know. It's a beautiful show with a powerful message for Oceania folks. x Tanu & Pati.
No tea no shade. It is what it is. Just for clarity, every dollar went towards sustainability building. We wouldn't be here without the strategic investment. And that's on period!! So shout-out to the 2024 CNZ assessors for that.
I bet the February round of contestable Arts funding for organizations and groups is gonna be a straight up DEATH match. I wonder if it's even worth applying this time. FAFSWAG barely made it over the line last year and we only did tier 1 - $50K spread over 2years of international development.
December 3, 2025 at 4:26 AM
No tea no shade. It is what it is. Just for clarity, every dollar went towards sustainability building. We wouldn't be here without the strategic investment. And that's on period!! So shout-out to the 2024 CNZ assessors for that.
With love and deep condolences to all your loved ones. You will be eternally missed Aunty, Jennifer Lal. Thank you for your incredible contribution to the arts in Aotearoa. Live arts will not be the same without you. x Rest in Love. xx FAFSWAG aiga.
December 2, 2025 at 5:54 PM
With love and deep condolences to all your loved ones. You will be eternally missed Aunty, Jennifer Lal. Thank you for your incredible contribution to the arts in Aotearoa. Live arts will not be the same without you. x Rest in Love. xx FAFSWAG aiga.
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
December 2, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Last show for the year - TIDES: Gender Beyond the Binary In Oceania at East Hawai'i Cultural Centre. Fafswag, Connie M. Florez, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, and Peter Waples- Crowe. Running from December 6th 2025 - February 27th, 2026.
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
Image Credit: Pacific Bizarre 2019 - FAFSWAG
This year we had a Work-In-Progress-Sharing of Pati Tyrell's new ceremonial work SAUNIGA, at Arts Centre Melbourne. It's been a big Year for FAFSWAG in Melbourne. One of our international producer's Elyssia Wilson-Heti is now currently based there full time. Keen to see more of Naarm in the future.
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This year we had a Work-In-Progress-Sharing of Pati Tyrell's new ceremonial work SAUNIGA, at Arts Centre Melbourne. It's been a big Year for FAFSWAG in Melbourne. One of our international producer's Elyssia Wilson-Heti is now currently based there full time. Keen to see more of Naarm in the future.
Tea Break Tales is casting their next campaign. Get in touch if you have a story to tell. It's a paid opportunity for successful applicants. Details in the Image. Get it your life!!!
November 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Tea Break Tales is casting their next campaign. Get in touch if you have a story to tell. It's a paid opportunity for successful applicants. Details in the Image. Get it your life!!!
Congratulations to @tanugago.bsky.social who's short film Picking Crew took the Best International Short Film Award at Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) over the weekend. Congrats to the whole creative team behind the film. What an amazing honour to receive at the end your festival circuit run.
November 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Congratulations to @tanugago.bsky.social who's short film Picking Crew took the Best International Short Film Award at Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) over the weekend. Congrats to the whole creative team behind the film. What an amazing honour to receive at the end your festival circuit run.
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Fale Sā / Sacred House - SAUNIGA - REVIEW
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
November 4, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Fale Sā / Sacred House - SAUNIGA - REVIEW
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
Critically-acclaimed Queer Indigenous collective FAFSWAG take over HOME – with stunning digital art, live cultural ceremony and a programme of films and talks grounded in Pacific identity and culture. We caught the show SAUNIGA.
jadar.uk/2025/07/14/r...
Reposted by FAFSWAG
FAFSWAG artist @tanugago.bsky.social created this video essay for a digital workshop series in 2022 for ImagineNATIVE Digital Film & Media Arts Festival, as a cultural exchange for indigenous artists from around the world. Check out 'Rendering Queer Moana Arts Histories' youtu.be/C8jEJfX1RIs?...
Queer Pacific Art in Aotearoa: Tanu Gago | Video Essay
YouTube video by FAFSWAG
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
FAFSWAG artist @tanugago.bsky.social created this video essay for a digital workshop series in 2022 for ImagineNATIVE Digital Film & Media Arts Festival, as a cultural exchange for indigenous artists from around the world. Check out 'Rendering Queer Moana Arts Histories' youtu.be/C8jEJfX1RIs?...
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Go behind the scenes with acclaimed Arts Collective FAFSWAG, 🤩 We give you an exclusive look at our collaborative practice and the development of our powerful new work, FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, for the Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25).
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
November 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Go behind the scenes with acclaimed Arts Collective FAFSWAG, 🤩 We give you an exclusive look at our collaborative practice and the development of our powerful new work, FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, for the Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25).
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
Full video on YouTube
youtu.be/QtwaUs16nok?...
It's always sad to see talented folks leave the arts. Sadly Jacob Tamata's piece for the Pacific Dance Festival entitled Bionica was his last. Produced by us but isn't a FAFSWAG work. Meaning we don't own the IP. But it did feature our artists at the time, and digital production design by Tanu Gago.
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
It's always sad to see talented folks leave the arts. Sadly Jacob Tamata's piece for the Pacific Dance Festival entitled Bionica was his last. Produced by us but isn't a FAFSWAG work. Meaning we don't own the IP. But it did feature our artists at the time, and digital production design by Tanu Gago.
For queer Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, colonisation is not simply the entirety of our known history. It's the root of ongoing systemic barriers and collisions. We honour the ancestors and fight for sovereignty and visibility.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
November 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
For queer Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, colonisation is not simply the entirety of our known history. It's the root of ongoing systemic barriers and collisions. We honour the ancestors and fight for sovereignty and visibility.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
Image Credit: Elyssia Wilson Heti - Reclamation 2019 Basement Theatre.
Part of Photo24, this collection of Queer Indigenous artist portraits was on display outside The Substation in Melbourne. Love these works from local First Nations and Pasifika artists. I just wish the festival had made their info more obvious, cause we didn't manage to find the artists credits.
November 19, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Part of Photo24, this collection of Queer Indigenous artist portraits was on display outside The Substation in Melbourne. Love these works from local First Nations and Pasifika artists. I just wish the festival had made their info more obvious, cause we didn't manage to find the artists credits.
A personal thread from Samoan Interdisciplinary artist Tanu Gago, Chronicling the time and space journey of his deeply personal art work and short film - APPARATUS. Hear from the artists own experiences, about the making of this work and it's journey with global audiences.
I should probably update my grief films, now that both my parents are in the ground. Apparatus was defiantly an attempt at breaking generational curses. It might be time to let it all go... Thinking of just releasing this film from 2018 online. It's been shown in so many places around the world.
November 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
A personal thread from Samoan Interdisciplinary artist Tanu Gago, Chronicling the time and space journey of his deeply personal art work and short film - APPARATUS. Hear from the artists own experiences, about the making of this work and it's journey with global audiences.
Reposted by FAFSWAG
I should probably update my grief films, now that both my parents are in the ground. Apparatus was defiantly an attempt at breaking generational curses. It might be time to let it all go... Thinking of just releasing this film from 2018 online. It's been shown in so many places around the world.
November 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I should probably update my grief films, now that both my parents are in the ground. Apparatus was defiantly an attempt at breaking generational curses. It might be time to let it all go... Thinking of just releasing this film from 2018 online. It's been shown in so many places around the world.
Thanks to Circuit we did a show in Bangkok with Martin as part of Legacies, film collection. Was great to share space abroad with other fellow kiwi artists. Congratulations to them on their tour announcement 😁
Ōtautahi filmmaker & avant-folk songwriter Martin Sagadin has announced a release tour for their debut album Martin Iz Zgornje Bele — launching via Ba Da Bing Records & Melted Ice Cream!
Listen to lead single 'Sto Vrat' + get tickets via UTR.
Listen to lead single 'Sto Vrat' + get tickets via UTR.
Martin Sagadin Announces 'Martin Iz Zgornje Bele' Debut Album Release Tour
Ōtautahi artist is touring their debut album throughout Aotearoa this summer.
www.undertheradar.co.nz
November 17, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Thanks to Circuit we did a show in Bangkok with Martin as part of Legacies, film collection. Was great to share space abroad with other fellow kiwi artists. Congratulations to them on their tour announcement 😁
Reposted by FAFSWAG
11695 I’m talking to you! We’ve received over 50K resumes, from every single zip code in NYC… except for one.
Apply today and help us build a City Hall for everyone.
Apply today and help us build a City Hall for everyone.
November 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
11695 I’m talking to you! We’ve received over 50K resumes, from every single zip code in NYC… except for one.
Apply today and help us build a City Hall for everyone.
Apply today and help us build a City Hall for everyone.
Reposted by FAFSWAG
Woke up thinking about Onibaba (1964).
What a film.
Two women survive in warring feudal Japan by tricking and murdering samurai, and stealing their belongings.
But when someone gets between the two women, the eldest tells of an evil curse that may be on them both...
Machete's way up for this one.🔪🔪
What a film.
Two women survive in warring feudal Japan by tricking and murdering samurai, and stealing their belongings.
But when someone gets between the two women, the eldest tells of an evil curse that may be on them both...
Machete's way up for this one.🔪🔪
November 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Woke up thinking about Onibaba (1964).
What a film.
Two women survive in warring feudal Japan by tricking and murdering samurai, and stealing their belongings.
But when someone gets between the two women, the eldest tells of an evil curse that may be on them both...
Machete's way up for this one.🔪🔪
What a film.
Two women survive in warring feudal Japan by tricking and murdering samurai, and stealing their belongings.
But when someone gets between the two women, the eldest tells of an evil curse that may be on them both...
Machete's way up for this one.🔪🔪
'Tulouna Le Lagi' by FAFSWAG artist Pati Tyrell, commissioned by Circuit Moving Image Artist Aotearoa, and presented in 2023 at Storage Gallery in Bangkok, Thailand. Can also be viewed on circuits website.
www.circuit.org.nz/work/tulouna...
www.circuit.org.nz/work/tulouna...
November 16, 2025 at 4:52 PM
'Tulouna Le Lagi' by FAFSWAG artist Pati Tyrell, commissioned by Circuit Moving Image Artist Aotearoa, and presented in 2023 at Storage Gallery in Bangkok, Thailand. Can also be viewed on circuits website.
www.circuit.org.nz/work/tulouna...
www.circuit.org.nz/work/tulouna...
FAFSWAG artist @tanugago.bsky.social created this video essay for a digital workshop series in 2022 for ImagineNATIVE Digital Film & Media Arts Festival, as a cultural exchange for indigenous artists from around the world. Check out 'Rendering Queer Moana Arts Histories' youtu.be/C8jEJfX1RIs?...
Queer Pacific Art in Aotearoa: Tanu Gago | Video Essay
YouTube video by FAFSWAG
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
FAFSWAG artist @tanugago.bsky.social created this video essay for a digital workshop series in 2022 for ImagineNATIVE Digital Film & Media Arts Festival, as a cultural exchange for indigenous artists from around the world. Check out 'Rendering Queer Moana Arts Histories' youtu.be/C8jEJfX1RIs?...
As the corporations start to delete the internet, and use generative AI language models to summerise entire social histories. The idea of relying on them to hold the nuance of our history is deeply flawed. I think for the sake of posterity we're going to start a thread about Ballroom Aotearoa.
November 15, 2025 at 6:41 AM
As the corporations start to delete the internet, and use generative AI language models to summerise entire social histories. The idea of relying on them to hold the nuance of our history is deeply flawed. I think for the sake of posterity we're going to start a thread about Ballroom Aotearoa.
FAFSWAG presented our interactive documentary project at the 22nd Biennal Sesc_VIDEOBRASIL in 2023.
fafswagvogue.com
fafswagvogue.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:37 AM
FAFSWAG presented our interactive documentary project at the 22nd Biennal Sesc_VIDEOBRASIL in 2023.
fafswagvogue.com
fafswagvogue.com
Co-winner of the @letterboxd.social Award for Māori Pasifika Talent, director Tanu Gago is a Laureate Award-winning filmmaker whose subtle and poignant exploration of Pasifika masculinity—and its queer-tinged boundaries—is gaining global recognition.
Check it out at MQFF
mqff.com.au/program/indi...
Check it out at MQFF
mqff.com.au/program/indi...
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Co-winner of the @letterboxd.social Award for Māori Pasifika Talent, director Tanu Gago is a Laureate Award-winning filmmaker whose subtle and poignant exploration of Pasifika masculinity—and its queer-tinged boundaries—is gaining global recognition.
Check it out at MQFF
mqff.com.au/program/indi...
Check it out at MQFF
mqff.com.au/program/indi...