Niuean Artists

Niuean Artists

Sourced from wikipedia

From the research that we have done so far this week you can see that unfortunately traditional Niuean art has died out over the years. There are however many artists who are now embracing their Niuean culture and starting to bring Niuean art back to life. Today we are going to look at a few Niuean artists and what they are doing to bring this art back to life and share with others. 

John Pule

John Puhiatau Pule was born on 18th April 1962 in Liku Niue and arrived in New Zealand in 1964. He was educated at Mount Albert Grammar school in Auckland. He is a Niuean artist, novelist and poet. He is described by the Queensland Art Gallery as “one of the Pacific’s most significant artists.” In 2012 John Paule was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services as an author, poet and painter. John Paule’s artwork includes painting, drawing, printmaking, filmmaking and performance. The topics of his work include Niuean cosmology and Christiany as well as perspectives on migration and colonialism. His art work comprises both painting on canvas and bark cloth painting which is a traditional Polyneasian artform. Since 1991 Pule has exhibited his art work throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the USA, the Pacific and Asia. John Pule’s work is held in numerous public and private collections throughout New Zealand and Australia as well as Scotland. 

Foufili Halagigie

Foufili Halagigie is an artist who is recognised for creating Lili Fakamanaia (wall hangings) which have been shown in Auckland exhibitions in 2012. She is a member of the award winning Ōtāhuhu-based Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group. Falepipi he Mafola started in 1993 with members aged up to 80 sharing their skills. The group has helped develop and maintain the traditional Niuean practices of weaving, plaiting, netting and carving. The members also enjoy speaking Niuean, dancing and singing and have also released a CD of traditional songs and story telling.  Lili Fakamanaia is made of yellow, red, blue and white raffia and kaniu (coconut tree leaf midribs). It takes over two months to complete and is over one metre in diameter. The work references magafaoa (family) and has strong connections to the artist’s homeland of Niue. Its colours are those of the Niuean flag.

Cora-Allan Wickliffe

Cora-Allan Wickliffe is an artist of Māori and Niue descent, originally from Waitakere. In recent years her practice has focused on her efforts to revive the art form of Hiapo. Cora-Allan Wickliffe was born in 1986 and completed her Masters in Visual Art and Design in Performance from AUT in 2013. She has exhibited her work throughout Aotearoa and internationally including Australia, Niue, England and Canada. Her work is a part of major collections including The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa, Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Wallace Arts Trust. She has won numerous awards from 2004 to 2020.

Macksoul Art

Layna is a Niuean artist whose drawings are inspired by Niue Hiapo. She shares her work through social media for others to enjoy and share with others. She hopes that through sharing these she is able to revive Niuean art work in New Zealand and Niue.