For 32 years, Cook Island artist Joan Gragg has painted daily life in the Cook Islands.

In ‘Patia Te Pere - The Big Deal’, Joan re-presents her narrative within a first edition series of 1000 decks of playing cards in which the characters, themes and patterns from traditional playing cards are replaced by Cook Islands cultural, environmental and societal images.

The cards depict the unique social attributes on daily display within a contemporary pacific society.

Right: back design, depicting an appliqué and embroidered bed cover.

While it is obvious to reference the popular local card game of Uka, a flamboyant, effusive performance more often supplemented by raucous laughter, drinks, ei katu and cigarettes, Joan's choice of artistic delivery (the cards) offers a poignant comment on the transposable and economic nature of culture itself.

With the Cook Islands Tourism increasingly recognising the commodity value of culture within its international marketing, Joan has created an affordable tourist souvenir for re-export and constant destination advertising wherever the cards may travel.

A discourse on the Sino-Pacific relationship and how it can fuel pacific tourism awareness and preserve local identity ensues. Also brought into question is the debate on culturally specific products, their manufacture, supplication and inherent market perception. (Notes by Ben Bergman. BCA gallery Rarotonga.)

“The inspiration for the cards came from a deck of cards given to me ten years ago called “The Deck of Cards” by Andrew Jones Art. Cards drawn by 56 British artists. Our family enjoyed them because they were challenging and really made you think as to what each card was but also made them difficult to use as playing cards.”

“Card playing in the Islands is very popular. In 2010 I decided to paint a deck of cards about the Cook Islands. I used elements from my previous work which focuses on recording impressions and every day humorous events that are taken for granted in the Islands.”

Packs are available directly from Joan Gragg at $NZ 45.00/deck plus postage.