Lepoamo’s use of Samoan siapo, crewel and blackwork patterns set against the most humble of materials (fish and chip wrappings and a worn recliner sofa) immediately intrigues. The smell of fish and chips and colourful collection of Value soft drinks strikes a chord of nostalgia, as her intricate print work calls for closer investigation. A detailed painting of commercialised seafood products represents the endpoint of the New Zealand fish species posters, commonly displayed at your local fish and chip shop. Confrontingly, these brands felt more familiar to me than the crayfish, snapper and blue cod which Lepoamo also depicts in their original form. While Lepoamo’s work provides commentary on food systems, the essence of her work is the tribute it pays to her family and friends. The work is first and foremost about aroha. She recalls the ritual of consuming fish and chips with her family, the children always being served first and in abundance. The work is striking in its reminder of our complicity in the commodification of kai moana, with fish and chips and other seafood products being intimately interwoven with precious family memories and rituals of connection. 

~ Kari Schmidt