Siren Song
Container Series

Siren Song by Tongan artist Sione Monū is an immersive installation that reimagines the interior of a shipping container as a dynamic, sensory landscape. At the heart of the work is a series of suspended sculptural garlands that drift above, gently swaying and inviting the viewer to look upwards. These pendants are inspired by Monū’s cultural heritage, drawing from nimame’a tuikakala, the Tongan tradition of flower design, yet are transformed into contemporary sculptural forms. Each piece reflects Monū’s personal experiences as a Fakaleitī—an identity beyond conventional gender boundaries in Tongan culture.
The installation evokes a "garden of leitī," a fantastical space that weaves together Monū’s exploration of identity, culture, and the fluidity of self. Through a symphony of colours, shapes, and textures, Siren Song invites reflection on belonging and transformation, creating a dialogue between the artwork and its viewers.
Public Programme
Monū in Motion
Fri 21st Feb: 12-1pm
Sat 22nd Feb: 11am-12pm
NO booking required, but limited spaces available
This work was commissioned by Curator, Lîm Fawine Kado, for the special 15th Anniversary program of The Performance Arcade
Sione Tuívailala Monū
Ngambra/Ngambri, - Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa NZ

Sione Monū (they/them) is an artist of the Tongan diaspora. They live between Canberra, Australia and Auckland, working across the mediums of photography, moving-image, fashion and adornment, performance and drawing, exploring identity, family and pasifika queer experience in the diaspora.