Contemporary Pacific Art Show at Langafonua 'a Fafine Tonga Center Featured
L-R Taniela Petelo, Soane 'Aluesi and Tevita Mame'ivai Latu
A Contemporary Pacific Art show was officially launched yesterday afternoon 4th March at Langafonua ‘a Fafine Tonga Center in the capital Nuku’alofa.
The organizer of the event Mr. Tevita Mame’ivai Latu a renowned Tongan artist from Leimatu'a and Ha'ano told Nepituno News that this is the first show in a series of contemporary pacific art shows that his group is planning for 2015. They sucessfully conducted their last art show in November 2014 and they rest during the Christmas holidays before preparing for this event.
As the leader and mentor of this group of young local artists, Mr. Latu is not new to the field as he organized and ran art shows in the past not only here in the kingdom but he took part in art exhibitions in Australia, Samoa, New Zealand and other parts of the world representing the country. “This is a perfect opportunity for the group to showcase their works and build up their confidence in what they do though they are new to this kind of exposition" said Mr. Latu.
He believes that there are many talented young people in Tonga who are skillful and are able to acquire the kind of knowledge that one could obtain by studying abroad. He was fascinated by the raw talents found in the local boys when he returned back to Tonga in late 2000s after graduating from Australia National Arts School in Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts. He started to coach a handful of students at Seleka the place they use for kava party at Havelu and now it starts to bear fruits.
According to Mr. Latu, contemporary abstract is a new concept to Tonga. Students who are interested in art are only familiar with the basic concepts taught at high school level. “I believe that there is a tendency in the mind to transform and absorb new things if there is a channel that allow that to take place” said Latu when asked about how students react to the introduction of contemporary abstract or what he preferred to as contemporary pacific art.
Mr. Latu is a lecturer in Art at Tonga International Academy. When approached to give his views on the prospects of art in Tonga, he smiled while stating that he feels optimistic about the future as more students are enrolling in his course now compare to the past when he first started at tertiary level. "This is my life and it is my dream that one day I die a happy man if my students continue with the legacy" replied Mr. Latu.
Taniela Petelo of Havelu and Soane ‘Aluesi of Leimatu’a are progressing well with their work as some of their pieces are part of the show. “I am excited to see my work hanging on the wall and people are watching them” said Taniela Petelo. The show runs for two weeks and is open for the public.
