Manu o le Parataiso (Birds of Paradise) - Ana Teofilo

28th November - 30 January 2026

Manu o le Parataiso (Birds of Paradise) traces my personal and creative journey through the symbolic footprint of the Pacific Golden Plover. This distinctive form, often mistaken for a frangipani, has become a recurring motif within my work, a visual language that speaks of my family’s journey and as my guiding spirit. The tuli manu (Pacific Golden Plover) is a migratory bird that travels vast distances across the Pacific Ocean, returning home season after season. Its resilience and sense of direction mirror my own path as an artist and as a daughter of Sāmoa, grounded in heritage yet constantly navigating new horizons. Through shades of teal that flow across these works, I honour the ocean that carried my parents from Sāmoa to Aotearoa. This colour embodies both journey and belonging, and the ever-shifting waters that connect islands, people, and generations. Each mark, layer, and carved motif becomes a pathway, tracing the evolution of identity and the stories that shape who I am today. The glue dot textures that appear throughout the works hold deep symbolic meaning. They speak to the threads of connection between ancestors and descendants, between memory and place. They mark milestones, embody the strength of community, and shimmer like when sunlight hits the sea. Manu o le Parataiso is an exploration of movement, migration, and memory, a celebration of the beauty found in our footprints, both seen and unseen. It is a tribute to my parents’ journey, my children’s future, and the spaces in between where stories take flight.