Salvador Brown, a dedicated musician and skilled taonga pūoro practitioner, embarks on a journey of passion and connection, exploring how his love for taonga pūoro is intricately woven into his whakapapa in Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, specifically Haamoa. With a profound devotion to oro and the rich musical traditions that resonate throughout the Pacific, Salvador delves into the mesmerizing world of oro, vibrations, and musical traditions in the Pacific.
Salvador Brown interviewed by James Webster on Oro Rua
Introducing Salvador
Salvador is now based in Auckland after growing up in London, where he was a member of Ngāti Ranana-Maori Cultural Group, Maramara Totara-London based Taiaha Roopu and Beats of Polynesia Dance group. Salvador first blew the pū (conch) at the age of 4 and has had a love affair with Taonga Pūoro ever since. Photography and Videography are his second love, shooting stills on film sets to documenting SaVĀges and Sisters.
Salvador was raised surrounded by the Pasifika arts scene as a child of one of the Pacific Sisters, who he often collaborates with. He participated in the Inaugural London SaVĀge K’lub in 2011 and went on to document them for the Queensland Art Gallery’s 8th Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in 2015.
Highlights of his artistic practice include Kaiwhakatangi at the opening celebrations for the acclaimed Pacific Sisters: Fashion Activists exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery. Acti.VA.tor for In*ter*is*land Collective in London for the Oceania exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris (2019) and Workshop leader at Volkenkunde Museum Netherland Maori Week with his London whanau Te Kohanga Reo o Rānana in 2018
