Gallery visit: Filipe Tohi at Fresh Gallery/Otara, Manukau city
Color and contrast
A solo exhibition by Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi
20, Mar - 11 Apr., 2009
Last week we missed the visit for Fresh Gallery because it was closed. I visited there again this Tuesday(6, Mar).
After the introduction with details about Filipe Tohi’s art works from gallery staff, Nicole Lim, I finally understood about the artist’s background and the creative ideas about his artworks.
Filipe Tohi was born in Tonga and migrated to New Zealand in 1978, at the age of nineteen. Filipe lives and works in New Plymouth were several of his sculptures can be seen. He became a full time artist / sculptor since 1990. He works with a wide variety of media from wood, stone, steel and Perspex.
Last year, he experimented to work with acrylic painting s and a series of “haukulasi”(flatten lalava in wool)
In Fresh Gallery, there are 11 art works showing. 5 acrylic paintings and 6 Haukulasi. I was fascinated to the geometric patterns with abstract creative art forms. With the combination of square , triangle with contrast colors and the volume with illusion and lines. Those are modern representation of identity of contemporary arts.
What’s the meaning of Haukulasi?
Haukulasi is a practice invented by Tohi which uses traditional Tongan techniques(lalava) to create a new form using wool.
What’s the meaning of “Lalava”?
Lalava is also known as Haukafa. It is a traditional binding methods,made with sannit(coconut fiber).
The lalava is usually done with two colors-black and natural. Lashing is traditionally with the two colors-however , it is traditional binding with either one or two colors of coconut fiber.
Comparison 2 different series of Filipe Tohi’ s art works including acrylic painting and Haukulasi in the gallery. I like Haukulasi rather than his paintings although the vivid modern colors. Haukulasi looks so modern with fine designs and precision of lashing with the media of wool made 3 dimension to bind with particle board. The lalava patterns implied his Polynesian background. The contrast of 2 colors coming with squares and lines represent a balance patterns like the traditional Tongan life philosophy. I stared the squares,one by one, each square is like a small world with the mass of layers and lines. It’s un-touchable to the bottom (source) of each world. The depth and width of ancient culture. He is the only one modern artist with traditional art form of lalava.
“My work transforms the technology of the past into a modern representation of identity and experience. By using the patterns established by lalava. I express a dynosian heritage with metaphors for that speak to the entire community. -written by Filipe Tohi.
www.tantai.org/sopolemalama-fillipe-tohi/
http://www.lalava.net/
According to Nicole Lim’s introduction, there are some metal work projects by Tohi in New Zealndn and overseas. One in Tepapa museum in Wellington, one(coming together ) in Onehunga community center and library 2004, and one in New Plymouth.
Color and contrast
A solo exhibition by Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi
20, Mar - 11 Apr., 2009
Last week we missed the visit for Fresh Gallery because it was closed. I visited there again this Tuesday(6, Mar).
After the introduction with details about Filipe Tohi’s art works from gallery staff, Nicole Lim, I finally understood about the artist’s background and the creative ideas about his artworks.
Filipe Tohi was born in Tonga and migrated to New Zealand in 1978, at the age of nineteen. Filipe lives and works in New Plymouth were several of his sculptures can be seen. He became a full time artist / sculptor since 1990. He works with a wide variety of media from wood, stone, steel and Perspex.
Last year, he experimented to work with acrylic painting s and a series of “haukulasi”(flatten lalava in wool)
In Fresh Gallery, there are 11 art works showing. 5 acrylic paintings and 6 Haukulasi. I was fascinated to the geometric patterns with abstract creative art forms. With the combination of square , triangle with contrast colors and the volume with illusion and lines. Those are modern representation of identity of contemporary arts.
What’s the meaning of Haukulasi?
Haukulasi is a practice invented by Tohi which uses traditional Tongan techniques(lalava) to create a new form using wool.
What’s the meaning of “Lalava”?
Lalava is also known as Haukafa. It is a traditional binding methods,made with sannit(coconut fiber).
The lalava is usually done with two colors-black and natural. Lashing is traditionally with the two colors-however , it is traditional binding with either one or two colors of coconut fiber.
Comparison 2 different series of Filipe Tohi’ s art works including acrylic painting and Haukulasi in the gallery. I like Haukulasi rather than his paintings although the vivid modern colors. Haukulasi looks so modern with fine designs and precision of lashing with the media of wool made 3 dimension to bind with particle board. The lalava patterns implied his Polynesian background. The contrast of 2 colors coming with squares and lines represent a balance patterns like the traditional Tongan life philosophy. I stared the squares,one by one, each square is like a small world with the mass of layers and lines. It’s un-touchable to the bottom (source) of each world. The depth and width of ancient culture. He is the only one modern artist with traditional art form of lalava.
“My work transforms the technology of the past into a modern representation of identity and experience. By using the patterns established by lalava. I express a dynosian heritage with metaphors for that speak to the entire community. -written by Filipe Tohi.
www.tantai.org/sopolemalama-fillipe-tohi/
http://www.lalava.net/
According to Nicole Lim’s introduction, there are some metal work projects by Tohi in New Zealndn and overseas. One in Tepapa museum in Wellington, one(coming together ) in Onehunga community center and library 2004, and one in New Plymouth.
Excellent, so glad you made it to the show! TX
回覆刪除Hi Shu-chen! Please catch up with the Capitalism, Commodification and Culture-Jamming lecture when you can! TX
回覆刪除Now you also need to catch up with the Indigenous Narratives lecture! TX
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