Artist statement:
This was a reaction to my concern for the rather superficial approach to tourism development in Niue at the time I painted it (2012) and in the wider context to tourism in the Pacific Islands in general. The flimsy paleu (sarong, lavalava) is symbolic of this superficiality as is the hackneyed hibiscus motif on the material which, exasperatingly, Niue Tourism chose to adopt for their logo. The obviously European model was deliberate, Kiwis and Australians being the major Pacific tourism target market.