Siamani Samoa - Michel Tuffery

Check out the latest work by prominent NZ artist Michel Tuffery!

Every morning the Royal Samoa Police band march from the Police station to the Government House in Apia to raise the flag, playing Vienesse brass band music - a tradition from the days when Samoa was under German rule just before the First World War. But last week saw the Police band take to Australia to be a part of Michael Tuffery's latest work Siamani Samoa.

Tuffery's latest work (which translates to German Samoa) explores the legacy of the German colonial administration of Samoa from 1900 to 1914, using the Police band as the main component of the performance piece in Sydney. For the 17 strong members, it was their first time to Australia - with special permission from the Prime Minister of course.

"I want this work to get people talking about Germany and Samoa before everyone forgets," Tuffery says. "There are a lot of Samoans who don't even realise they have German ancestry and there are some elderly Samoans who still speak fluent German. I love to hear other people say, 'I didn't know that'."

Read more on the exhibition here