Fatu feu u biography sample

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 metaphor of Pacificwarriors looking for land to people the Pacific, in sailing canoes,taking their culture as they travelled ceramics, lashing, carving,tapa (bark cloth) and painting all bound together and not beinglost on the crossings.&ldquo

&ldquo I feel there is so much art to be made, so much to be said about being a Samoan New Zealander, so much to say to my children, my mother, the politicians. I paint about the issues that are important to me, anger, love, the land, conservation and our culture, my children.&ldquo

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 historical events and reinforced that are each is an ingredient of a transplanted heritage: 'I've taken the traditional art form and brought it into the contemporary, to today, and somebody else can take it to tomorrow. It's a way of keeping our art alive.'

Fatu Feu'u was appointed an Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2001 New Year Honours. In October 2022 he was awarded the Senior Pacific Artist Award by Creative New Zealand, for his outstanding contribution to art and his role as a leader within the Pacific arts community.  In December 2022, Fatu received the ICON Award,  alongside Dame Jane Campion and Dame Robin White, by the NZ Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. In March 2023, Fatu received the Distinguished Alumni Award - Auckland University.

Works by Fatu Feu'u are included in the collection of the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane;  Museum of New Zealand Te

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. 

When Feu’u met Colin McCahon had never had a gallery show and was "very shy to say 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 challenge 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 a single bush knife. 

"I thought to myself I would do something similar to that … but using modern tools like chainsaws and things like that."

The letter 'I' that often appears in Feu'u's paintings stands for ifoga - a Samoan cultural practice of reconciliation.

Ifoga is an example of how Samoan cultural history can help guide us in modern life, he says.

"It's very valid that we acknowledge these old ceremonies that can help us in our own life on this planet right now.

"We are living through a very difficult time in this world and I think the power of ifoga is very correct in this time where we should be having conversations with each other, from one nation to another, to reconcile many wrongs.