Jim Vivieaere

He was a well-respected and significant multimedia and installation artist, freelance curator and a passionate advocate for contemporary Pacific art.

His contact with his Rarotongan heritage came later in life; in 1982 he was awarded a scholarship to study tapa (bark cloth) in Rarotonga and located his father on that trip.

[2] High academic achievement saw Vivieaere enrol in Dunedin medical school in the late 1960s.

[3] “Bottled Ocean was the first survey of contemporary New Zealand Polynesian art and 'featured many now iconic Pacific artists including Fatu Feu’u, Johnny Penisula, John Pule, Lily Laita, John Ioane, Niki Hastings-McFall, Albert Refiti, Filipe Tohi, Michel Tuffery, Ani O'Neill, Loretta Young, Patrick Futialo (aka hip hop artist Tha Feelstyle Orator).

[5] Exhibitions as a curator: In 1998, Ian George curated Paringa Ou, the first major exhibition of contemporary art by Cook Island artists residing in New Zealand featuring artists such as Ani O'Neill, Sylvia Marsters, Mahiriki Tangaroa, Michel Tuffery, Jim Vivieaere, Ian George, and Kay George, the exhibition travelled to the National Museum in Fiji, Cook Islands National Museum, as well as Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland, New Zealand.