Double prong (bone), 2026

These burnished stoneware hair pins emerge from daily rituals and beauty in relation to hair. The forms of these pins are inspired by fauna within the Pacific and bone carving practices within Tonga. The polished ceramic surfaces invite touch, and bodily engagement rather than being observed at a distance. These pieces act as a reminder of the natural world when adorned on the body.

Benjamin Akuila (b.2000) is a multidisciplinary artist of Tongan and Irish descent living and working in Eora and Dharug country. Akuila's work explores ideas of cultural authenticity, and identity performances within the Tongan-Australian diaspora through the material use of clay. Through investigating societal constructs of history, identity, and gender, Akuila utilises humour and heliaki (allusion) to subvert these preconceived notions. Akuila's work reinterprets traditional Tongan art making and applies these practices to contemporary materials to explore new narratives of identity.