Fatu feu u biography sample
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Fatu Feu’u, an elder statesman of Pacific art, was intimidated to meet legendary New Zealand painter Colin McMahon in the late '70s.
"Colin said 'I am waiting for you and your friends to make a contribution to New Zealand art'. It was very humbling to hear that and also challenging in a way."
Now aged 76, the Samoan New Zealand artist was recently named an Arts Foundation Icon.
Fatu Feu’u Photo: Raymond Sagapolutele.
When Feu’u met Colin McCahon had never had a gallery show and was "very shy to säga anything about art".
He now works in painting, sculpture, ceramics, weaving and bark cloth - always with the 4,000-year-old tradition of Samoan artmaking in mind.
"I utmaning myself to make new things that relate back to the older culture. I believe I'm getting there somehow to bridge that gap and move forward from there."
Feu’u knew he wanted to be a craftsman since childhood when he liked to watch his aunties make tapa, his father make canoes and his uncles build houses with
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Fatu Feu'u
Feu'u has exhibited nationally and internationally in both group and solo shows. Works are held in public and private collections in New Zealand, Australia, USA, England, Holland, American Samoa,Western Samoa, Japan, West Germany and Belgium.
Feu'u has fulfilled numerous commissions and special projects both in New Zealand and overseas and has been the recipient ofvarious awards, notably the James Wallace Art Award in 1995. He is the subject of many publications including &ldquo Speaking in Colour&ldquo by Sean Mellon, (Te Papa Museum, 1997) and a television documentary entitled &ldquo Fatu Feu'u: The Artist&ldquo (1990).
Over the years Fatu has been supportive of the careers of many Pacific Island artists. In founding the Tautai Contemporary PacificArts Trust alongside other artists and prominent business people, Fatu continues to encourage young artists.
To Feu'u, his work represents his &ldquo aspirations for Samoanculture to be conserved for tomorrow. It is a meta
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Fatu Feu'u ONZM, was born in the village of Poutasi, Falealili on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Educated at Apia's Samoa College, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1966 in order to study art. He was soon encouraged by local artists to continue with his painting, and he has held regular exhibitions since 1983, both nationally and internationally.
For the past 5 decades, his significance as a mentor for other Pacific artists has been widespread, as much through his sense of vocation as by the example of his art. In paintings, prints, and sculpture, Feu'u has transformed traditional design motifs into fresh meanings: tatau, siapo, ufimata, lalaga and gogo - tattoo, barkcloth, masks, weaving and the frigate bird - have together with lapita pottery all contributed to his visual presentation of Samoan legends and fa'a Samoa or Samoan culture.
By showing his art to people living outside of Samoa, Fatu Feu'u has revivified the connections between Samoan contemporary life and