North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Tongan art show a hit
A travelling Tongan artist has returned to Northcote to share his contemporary, Island art style with budding Kiwi artists.
Friends I Haven’t Met is Te¯ vita
La¯ tu¯ ’s nearly sold out, 18-piece exhibition of Picasso-esque works at Northart gallery.
Despite being established for only eight years, La¯ tu¯ has already visited Australia, Tahiti, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Samoa, to display his artwork.
This success is unprecedented for the Tongan, who comes from a country that disregards art as nothing more than a hobby.
‘‘In Tonga getting a degree in art is like getting a degree in fishing,’’ La¯ tu¯ said.
La¯ tu¯ creates his unique pieces by pasting together collages of recycled newspapers, before painting portraits on top of them - a technique he shared at two free workshops he hosted at Northart gallery and Westlake Boys High School.
For La¯ tu¯ , working with young people is what he enjoys the most, having started his own art school in Tonga that caters to underprivileged community youth.
‘‘Art gets the kids being occupied with something healthy.
‘‘I want to educate them and mentor them, not just in art but in life.’’
See Friends I Haven’t Met, open till October 6 at Northart, Ernie Mays St, Northcote.