Michael Tavioni is a Cook Islands cultural icon. Born in 1947, he frequently serves as an advisor to Government and the Aronga Mana (Traditional Leaders) on cultural, social & economic issues.

Tavioni is often described as ‘Master Carver’ and possesses the rare ability to construct & complete a traditional, ocean

going outrigger canoe within a single day.

His extensive traditional knowledge encompasses all areas of Cook Islands life, a veritable living encyclopedia of cultural data.
Poet, painter, tattoo artist, stone, wood & bone carver, author & social commentator, Tavioni’s role within the pacific art community is acknowledged from  New Zealand through to Hawaii.

A love of country and people - Courtesy ESCAPE Magazine

Mike Tavioni’s contribution to Cook Islands art is immeasurable and he is regarded in the highest esteem by the local art community.

Mike Tavioni seems a pretty relaxed sort of fellow. Visit his open air studio on the back road near Avatiu and the silver-maned artist, carver and writer always has time for a joke and a talk about one of his favourite subjects: art, poetry, writing, carving, sculpting, building canoes, writing and singing songs, agriculture, promoting Cook Islands natural resources and helping his people.

The thing is, it’s not just all talk. He is actively involved in all of the above – and a lot more besides.
On a typical day, after attending a meeting of the Development Investment Board he’s back at his studio, keeping an eye on another artist who is helping with carvings for Rarotonga’s new airport departure lounge. Visitors come and go, but he has time for a word with all of them, whether they’re friends or family members calling to shoot the breeze or tourists dropping in to pick up a Tangaroa statue to take home to LA.

A massive stone sculpture in front of the studio is almost complete but can’t be worked on today because Tavioni and his wife Awhi tia, also a respected carver, have been asked to make traditional weapons for an island leader’s investiture ceremony. Deadline is less than an hour away and to the inexperienced eye there’s no way it’s going to happen.

“We’ll get there…well, I hope,” says Tavioni with a hearty laugh as Awhitia, who is carving a complicated pattern on the shaft of an ironwood spear, raises her head to cast him a comically exasperated look. That job finished, he might be able to check his second book of poetry which is well under way, or work on his script for a home-grown movie about Paikea, the legendary ancestor from Mauke whose exploits inspired the successful New Zealand film, the Whale Rider. Then again, he might do some research for his guide to Cook Islands plants.

Niece Ellena, who runs the Tavs fashion store, could drop in to discuss some new designs for her screen printed fabrics. Or Tavioni might prepare for his next visit to the canoe festival at Laihana on the island of Maui in Hawaii, where each year he and Awhitia and helpers are invited to produce a traditional Cook Islands outrigger canoe.

In the evening, after a brief appearance at the opening of an art exhibition featuring one of his paintings he might finish a song he’s been writing, or add drawings to his book about traditional Cook Islands symbols. At 1am he calls it a day.

It’s a busy life. But recently Tavioni has also found time to update a book which makes a strong case for reducing the country’s dependence on imported food, as well as produce beautiful carved furniture for several churches. So why is this multi-talented cultural icon driven to tak e on such a prodigious workload?It all comes down to passion and a deep and unconditional love – for his family, his friends, the creative arts, his people and his country.

The concern for his people dates back to the grim days of the mid-1990s when for a variety of reasons the Cook Islands almost went broke. More than 2000 civil servants lost their jobs and their means of supporting their families. “I experienced first hand how frightened people are when they suddenly have no job, no pay and they have a wife or husband and a bunch of kids to support.  “That’s when I produced my first book on Cook Islands natural resources. I wanted our leaders to see that with all that nature has given us, we don’t need to rely on imported foods or unnecessary luxuries.”

Tavioni and Awhitia had already proven that, after being forced to live off the land to survive following a disastrous business failure in the 1980s.
“Our traditional ability to fish, raise animals and grow fruit and vegetables saved our lives and those of our family.” It was then that Mike turned to carving to bring in some cash. It strikes him now as ironic that most people think of him first as a carver, when in fact he only ever got into it out of economic necessity.
“To be honest, I don’t even enjoy carving all that much. But it has helped us through some tough times. And the raw materials are free.

Tavioni’s distrust of organised religion and politicians is as legendary as his wisdom, humour and generosity of spirit. So is his tendency to call a spade a spade. He has little time for the politics of Rarotonga’s art scene, letting his work do the talking.  And he is passionate about his little corner of the world.

“I have seen enough of the world to appreciate the Cook Islands much more than I ever used to. “Here we are safe and secure. I love peoples’ smiles and the colour that’s everywhere – in peoples’ faces, in the lagoon, the mountains and the gardens.”  He’s pretty content – though there’s a lot more he’d like to do if only he had the cash.

 “My ambition now is to make big things, significant things. I want to write about my childhood memories of traditional customs. And I want to encourage my grandchildren.They all love to paint and I want them to carry on.

“I am mostly driven by a need to prove that it is possible for anyone to do anything, if they put their mind to it.

“I think I am living proof of that.”  Cameron Scott

Michael Tavioni selected exhibitions/festivals: MANUIA, The American Indian Community House/BCA, New York, (2010); Vaka Moana, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland (2006-2007); Aue Te Mataora, BCA Gallery, Rarotonga (2002); Va’a – Lahaina, (The International Festival of Canoes) Maui, HI (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006); Akateni Te Vaka, Avarua, Rarotonga (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,2010,2011).

‘Did I answer your question?’/ The Octopus in the hole.

Jerome Shedden/Michael Tavioni
6’13, looped
2009/10 
from the exhiition, MANUIA, NYC, 2010

‘Did I answer your question?’/ The Octopus in the hole, addresses banal definitions of contemporary pacific art.

Within this artwork the cultural knowledge and experience of Cook Islands artist Michael Tavioni is revealed yet frequent cuts and interruptions distort the sharing of this information. This suggests that he can share only part of the story, while referencing past cultural colonisation and its frequent religious zealotry.

Shot inside Tavioni's studio on the island of Rarotonga Jerome Shedden’s video reveals a bare colour scheme, devoid of a much expected tropical surroundings. This video presents a monologue, an attempt to pass on a personal awareness to viewers who may record it with an iphone or digital camera. The video clearly plays on Cook Island oral traditions.

While Jerome’s video seeks to redress the bias within regional art definitions, humour is included, a clear international sports logo stands out on Tavioni’s clothing, the sounds of cars passing, loud and clear while he talks of traditional canoes. The blackboard in the background pays tribute to the Pacific influence of the late German artist Joseph Beuys.

During its discourse, this artwork articulates past and present cultural foundations while dismissing outdated academic voyaging myths. It offers a clear way forward for a migratory pacific population, recognizing the symbiotic relationship it has with daily foreign influences.

The Octopus in the hole stands as a symbol of environmental and cultural endangerment. Tavioni states that if the octopus can be protected, we will preserve everything that we know.

Permeating all of this fine artwork is the conceptual delivery of the piece by a young group of Cook Islands artists and curators. Educated, observant and tech savvy, we are proud to introduce ourselves and offer fresh definitions of pacific art.

Question answered!

Ben Bergman