YUKI KIHARA

b. 1975, Samoa

Yuki Kihara Biography

Yuki Kihara is renowned for delving into the complexities of postcolonial histories in the Pacific and interrogating Western misinterpretations from the perspective of Fa’afafine (Samoan for ‘in the manner of a woman’ broadly understood as the LGBTIQ+ in the Western context) community which she belongs to in Samoa.

Born in Samoa of mixed Samoan and Japanese heritage, Shigeyuki Kihara migrated to New Zealand in 1989. Kihara’s works and performances have been shown at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art; Hong Kong Arts Centre; Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan; Warsaw; Centro Ricerca Arte Attuale, Italy; Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne; Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin; Musée du Quai Branly, Paris; Trondheim Kunstmuseum, Norway; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; de Young Fine Art Museum of San Francisco; Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney; Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; National Gallery of Victoria International, Melbourne and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. Kihara’s work has recently been acquired by the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Ohio and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

In 2008 Kihara held a solo exhibition Living Photographs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in 2012 Kihara received the Wallace Arts Trust Paramount Award and the New Generation Award from The Arts Foundation.

Conversations

‘The more I disguised myself, the further it revealed my thoughts about colonially constructed boundaries of race, gender, sexuality, and geography.’

Yuki Kihara's Paradise Camp

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Explore Yuki Kihara's Exhibitions

Contemporary art exhibition Group Exhibition CHAT 5th Anniversary Factory Of Tomorrow at CHAT Centre for Heritage Arts Textile Hong Kong

Group Exhibition CHAT 5th Anniversary – Factory Of Tomorrow CHAT | Centre for Heritage, Arts & Textile 16 March–14 July 2024
Hong Kong

Representative Artworks

Yuki Kihara, Two Fa'afafine (After Gauguin) (2020). Hahnemühle fine art paper mounted on aluminium. 94 x 72 cm. © Yuki Kihara. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, The Wizard (After Gauguin) (2020). Hahnemühle fine art paper mounted on aluminium. 92 x 73 cm. © Yuki Kihara. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, My Samoan Girl (2004–2005). Pigment print on paper. Edition 25 + 5 AP. 6.4 x 4.8 cm. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Kamau Taurua Quarantine Island (2021). Lenticular photograph. 14.85 x 10.50 cm. From 'Quarantine Islands' series (2021). Acquired by Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Le Loimata o Apaula; Tears of Apaula (2004). Diptych, c-print. Edition of 5. 5.9 x 4.8 cm each. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Ulugali'i Samoa – Samoan Couple (2005). Pigment print on paper. Edition 11 of 25. 6.4 x 4.8 cm. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Three Fa'afafine (After Gauguin) (2020). Hahnemühle fine art paper mounted on aluminium. 73 x 94 cm. © Yuki Kihara. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Nafea e te fa'aipoipo? When will you marry? (After Gauguin) (2020). Hahnemühle fine art paper mounted on aluminium. 101 x 77 cm. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Two Fa'afafine going to church (After Gauguin) (2020). Hahnemühle fine art paper mounted on aluminium. 73.7 x 92.1 cm. © Yuki Kihara. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, Two Fa'afafine on the beach (After Gauguin) (2020). Hahnemühle fine art paper mounted on aluminium. 69 x 91 cm. © Yuki Kihara. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara, German Monument, Mulin'u (2013). C-print. Edition of 5 + 2 AP. 5.95 x 8.4 cm. Courtesy the artist and Milford Galleries, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Yuki Kihara in Ocula Magazine

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Spotlight Must-See Exhibitions During Sydney Contemporary and Beyond Susan Acret and Misong Kim Explore the best museum and institutional shows to see in Sydney during the fair and into the spring season.

Spotlight The 14th Gwangju Biennale Repeats Planetary Themes for a Reason Stephanie Bailey At the 14th Gwangju Biennale’s press conference, a local journalist probed artistic director Sook‑Kyung Lee on the difference between this edition’s themes and the one before it.

News Gwangju Biennale 2023 Gets ‘Soft and Weak Like Water’ Michael Irwin Participating artists have been announced for an exhibition that dives into metaphors for solidarity and transformation.

Spotlight / Photolog The 59th Venice Biennale 2022 'The Milk of Dreams': In Photos Every two years the Venice Biennale invites the world to showcase the best contemporary art its nations have to offer. The 2022 event was no exception, with many stellar exhibitions on display.

Conversation Yuki Kihara's Paradise Camp Natalie King Yuki Kihara represents the Pacific art community at the 59th Venice Biennale.

News Yuki Kihara Launches Solidarity Network for Artists at Venice Biennale Sam Gaskin Kihara conceived the Firsts Solidarity Network after becoming the first Pasifika, Asian, and trans artist to represent New Zealand at the event.

News Asia Forum Announces Venice 2022 Programme Sam Gaskin The event will feature contributions from artists Ho Rui An, Saodat Ismailova, Yuki Kihara, and ruangrupa’s Reza Afisina, among others.

News Which Artists Are Showing at Venice Biennale 2022? Sam Gaskin Australia is the latest country to confirm the artist and curator who will present work at the world’s most famous biennial.

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