You, the Choice of My Parents
Based on a poem by the prolific Konai Heli Thaman, one woman’s musings of her arranged marriage are laid bare over a series of traditional Tongan tapestries. Through a series of chapters, her life is animated by her inner turmoil and struggles to find her place as a woman in a new world.
Credits
Poem – Konai Helu Thaman
Director/Animation – Meli Tuqota Jr
Narration – Mele ‘Utuvai Mahe
English to Tongan Translation – Finau Hu’akau Tuqota
Narration Recording – Russell Lovo
Music – Laisiasa Dave
ORIGINAL CUT
TRT: 3 minutes 41 seconds
Exhibition Format: Digital Video
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Resolution: 1440 x 1080
Color, Tongan Narration with English Subtitles
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
A few years ago I realised that while I do a lot of work in animation for my 9 -5 job, I have rarely, if ever, worked on my personal projects. That realisation struck me as odd even though I see myself as somewhat of a creative person. Though I’m always happy to help other friends realize their projects I had nothing to call my own.
I came up with a personal statement there and then: ‘Make Cool Stuff.’
On my Google Keep page I keep a checklist of all the ‘cool’/interesting ideas in my head that I’d like to see brought to life. One of the first entries was to tell a story utilising tapa patterns as I’ve always been fascinated by South Pacific tapa patterns and tattoos. This idea stuck with me for awhile until I came across Konai Helu Thaman’s poem ‘You, The Choice of My Parents’.
I had found my vehicle of delivery.
Her poem of a woman struggling to come to terms with her arranged marriage and a subsequent shift in both scenery and lifestyle struck me as tragic. The tapa design with its comicbook-like layout of elements and illustrations lent itself well as a medium for the poem to live through, its static illustrations silently witnessing the womans struggle through this
moment in her life.
Working on this project I feel a stronger connection to the art of tapa, the Tongan culture and my mother, who helped me with the design and usage of different mats and tapa elements.