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VILT
VILT (2025)
Co-commissioned by The Physics Room & Te Tuhi
Twinwall Polycarbonate, PVC Tubing
2600mm x 1800mm x 1800mm
Typically, the umukuka (🇼🇸 cooking house) is a shoddy structure "built for cooks, not for looks", separated and situated behind the main dwelling. VILT is the third iteration of his late father’s umukuka, which defied the placement tradition, as he built his at the forefront of their property upon migrating to Aotearoa.
An architectural family portrait lashed with the Samoan symbolism for fetu/stars (X), vae'ali/headrest (Λ) and Roman numerals for significant dates. Each face is representative of Iva’s nuclear family; greeted with the face of the family (his father), to the left is Iva’s brother (his father’s ‘right-hand man’), with the backbone being his mother. Twinwall polycarbonate sheets (used for greenhouses) is lashed and suspended by PVC tubing (used in the medical field). Materials serving as nods to Iva’s parents’ places of service and solace.
Flawed, at points askew and warped, this “janky eyesore” is a "Va'aiga I LaloTai", abbreviated as VILT. A lexical blend of Iva's family's Samoan names, translating to a "p.o.v from below the ocean". The underwater portal from South Auckland to Samoa and the spiritual seaside.
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VILT: 1-3
Dalosa, Lafo & Iva @ The Physics Room (2025)
Ōtautahi, Christchurch, NZ
Images: © Bri Lawrence
VILT: 4-6
IHI @ Pātaka Art + Museum (2026)
Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, NZ
Images: © Mark Tantrum
VILT: LOG
Twinwall Polycarbonate, PVC Tubing, Resin, Epoxy, Cord
150mm x 300mm x 300mm
Kapekegi's (Captain's) logbook outlining the horizontal layers of an umu. Sits in the centre of VILT, aligning with the aperture in the roof.
VOLT
VOLT (2026)
Co-commissioned by The Physics Room & Te Tuhi
Twinwall Polycarbonate, PVC Tubing
Dimensions Variable
"Volt" is the unit for measuring the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit, referenced for the higher "power" in Iva's umukuka (🇼🇸 cooking house) installations tour. Point 1: VILT (2025), an underwater portal to his late father. Point 2: VOLT (2026), an aboveground conductor for his mother.
“Vi’iga O Lo’u Tinā” (praises of my mother), abbreviated as VOLT, is the tethered response to VILT and the fourth iteration of his father’s janky and unrefined umukuka. Lashing the Samoan symbol for stars (X) and the unit of measurement for voltage (V).
Armoured with flames ignited by Exodus 3:2-4 and the Samoan proverb “o le umu ua vela” (the food/oven is ready/hot). Metaphorically used to state someone who has devoted continuous service to their family, village or country. Signifying their diligence and resulting in a positive outcome for all.
VOLT is the harvesting, preparing and serving of a victorious to’ona’i (Sunday feast). An architectural anthem for the sacrifices of those before us, from Māngere to the motherland and the metaphysical realm.
[I/O]
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VOLT
Dalosa, Lafo & Iva @ Te Tuhi (2026)
Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, NZ
Images: © Sam Hartnett
'OKI
'OKI (2026)
Electro Galvanized Mild Steel, Matt Acrylic, Foil Tape
Dimensions Variable
‘OKI is an immortalised epiphany during Iva’s stint in the corporate jungle. Overgrown with individualists enticed by collectivism and practices embedded in our genetic framework, purely for profit and public relations.
The urgency to go toe-to-toe and to “protect”, is materialised as a zinc coating due to mild steel’s proneness to corrosion and structural damage. Shielded by a camouflage pattern of foil tape (known to maintain its integrity in extreme environments), imitating the veined texture of a siapo (🇼🇸 barkcloth) as plate armour.
🇼🇸 for 'cut', ‘goat’ and ‘death’ (sans apostrophe), ‘OKI is a triad of 685 (🇼🇸 country code) pride consisting of a chain, knife + trap (loosely based on the "imposter gem" in the Imperial State crown) to serve, save and sever.
Each blade is a Samoan parallel of greatness to the 5 C’s for Surviving the Wild … West:
i. Cutting (Knife) = Sapelu (Machete)
Essential tool for daily Samoan survival.
ii. Combustion (Fire) = Nifo ‘Oti (Cane Knife)
Ceremonial knife used in siva afi (fire dancing).
Symbolising strength, resilience + sacrifice.
iii. Cover (Protection) = Satauro (Cross)
"Fa'avae I Le Atua, Samoa" (God be the foundation of Samoa).
iv. Container (Water) = Tao (Spear)
"Tala o le lo" (spine of the rabbitfish) spear.
Referencing water as an energy source.
v. Cordage (Lashing) = Matatuai (Coconut Scraper)
Coconut husk is used as 'afa (lashing) in Samoan architecture.
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'OKI
Spilt Milk (& Hard Honey) @ West Space (2026)
Naarm, Melbourne, AU
••• ••- ••
••• ••- •• (2026)
Electro Galvanized Mild Steel, Matt Acrylic, Readymade: Trucks, Wheels & Bearings
Blades Stashed: 650mm x 200mm
Blades Fanned: Dimensions Variable
In skateboarding, a "switch move" is the accomplishment of any manoeuvre while in your unnatural and non-dominant stance.
As skateboards were invented to mimic "surfing on land" when waves were flat, SUI (🇼🇸 for 'switch', stylised in Morse code as ••• ••- ••) is an amphibious 685 board to skate the concrete currents of the modern and foreign. A kinetic symbol of ancestral way finding for the current timeline and urban landscape, with blades to slash switch codes for country codes.
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spdrtwnbby
spdrtwnbby - Back to Self (2025)
Twinwall Polycarbonate, PVC Tubing, Mild Steel, Foil Tape, Resin
Set + props for spdrtwnbby's astral bilocation powers to be in Apia and Avondale simultaneously.
Watch link > 🕷️🕷️🕷️
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SET + PROPS
1-3. spdrwebfaleo'obby
4-5. spdrkuaibby (coconut scraper) turntable
6-7. spdrpodsbby + ula fala wiring
Umucore
UMUCORE
Neo-hamo prototype pieces for the gritty Kaeyote Ugly studio
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SLIDES
1. Coconut Shell Seat + Charred Rock Base
2. Corrugated Fala (Woven Mat)
3. Coconut Grater Table + Wireless Charger Blade Arm
4. Taro Peeler Tin-Can Headphones + Ula Fala Cord &
Crucifix Volume Controller
5. Kara iPhone Case
6. Chrome Ula Lole (Candy Necklace) Lamp
HH:MM:SS
HH:MM:SS
Re/views: Rrrough renders of world benders (click/swipe)
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VR-4F
Amphibious wheels for our 🇼🇸 bloodlines rowing on the sea to rolling on the streets
INK IN BIO
🇼🇸 symbols to serve, save + sever
ULAVALE
ULAVALE
Hover where you hail from #wip (click ⚙️ pins)
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AVA3000FX
AVA3000FX
Matai (🇼🇸 chief) motorcycle headgear for titles on the off-road and off-shore.
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SHEPHERD s09
3/3 With bonus raffle.
MAGMA SAV KMT A11
3/3
C6H12O6
C6H12O6
Ulalole (🇼🇸 candy necklace) beyond the neck #wip
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APPIA
Chocolate packet strap with iPhone case holder.
NAIFI
V1. Candy straps w/ clear candy bag.
V2. Candy pant chain.
V3. Candy chain necklace.
OUTSIDE @ 6PM
Beer candy toy gun holster with replaceable licorice bullet caps.
POLYFEST
Chocolates snuggled in individual puffer jackets with zip removable strap. Connects to 'ie toga (fine mat) pouch.
cc:
CC:
Pawn site for oversized candy necklaces and undersized 'ie toga (🇼🇸 fine mat) #wip (click/swipe)
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NAIFI
Shoelaces + Hand Embroidery
PLASTIC
Bubble Wrap, Transparent Cellophane, 🇼🇸 Alphabet
Lalo Tour
LALO TOUR
Experiments with scale model of my old man's umu (🇼🇸 cooking house) set to stage "hologram" projections #wip (press play/click)
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