Alison Leauanae
24 May - 21 June
‘In search of the ‘Promised’
Moana artist Alison Leauanae explores ancestral and personal journeys in her debut show ‘Saili’ – seek – opening May 2024 at Toi Poneke Gallery. Her contemporary hand-stitched and hand-woven works on paper, depict abstracted motif and a visual language that draw inspiration from her diverse cultural heritage.
The passing of the artist’s late father and the passing on of the family archive, provided the impetus to re-engage with their stories of migration that connect back to England and Scotland through her father, and Samoa (Magiagi, Saleaula, Samata, Lano) through her mother. ‘Saili’ explores the motivations and aspirations of those who left all that was familiar, seeking opportunity in the land of ‘promise’.
Bus tickets collected by Leauanae as a child provided inspiration for her earlier ‘Pasese’ (translated as ‘fare’, ‘passage’, or ‘passenger’) series, and form the basis for her uniquely designed visual language in her new works. The hole punched shapes in these tickets are adopted as motif for the movement of people in pursuit of connection to places of promise and meaning. The artist has developed a cypher of sorts where shapes substitute letters to create vibrant and contrasting works that illustrate concepts of ‘faamoemoe’ (hope or expectation), and ‘alofa’ (love).
“I wanted the first statement I made in my solo outing to be based on my ‘gafa’ (genealogy or whakapapa). The acknowledgement that I haven’t arrived to this place without connection to a rich and varied history is central to who I am”, says Leauanae. “’Saili’ at its core is about connection to both people and place, and these are complex and meaningful to our journeys”.
Leauanae’s practice has been informed by the presence of two distinctly different cultures in her childhood home, and family members who encouraged her creativity. From her palagi/pakeha grandmother teaching and encouraging needle-related crafts, the presence of her Samoan artist uncle’s contemporary artworks adorning the walls as inspiration, and to parents who supported creative pursuits. Her works are produced by painstakingly pre-punching holes into paper before the stitching and weaving can begin, a process she sees as both meditative and therapeutic.
A self-taught artist who has exhibited in group exhibitions throughout the motu, Leauanae also has work in several private collections. She was awarded the Upstairs Gallery Emerging Artist Award in 2022, and was a finalist in the Changing Threads Contemporary Textile Fibre Art Awards in 2022 and 2023.
A guided tour with Alison Leauanae
Saturday 8 June
Join us for tea or coffee and meet artist Alison Leauanae as she leads you through her exhibition Saili – Seek. Alison will talk about the motif and visual language used to create the intricate handstitched patterns within her work, that are inspired by connections to the past and influenced by her diverse cultural heritage.
Stitching workshop
Saturday 15 June
Join artist Alison Leauanae as she teaches you her own technique of hand-stitching designs onto paper. In this workshop participants will draw simple motif or use a template that they can stitch onto a selection of papers.
Places are limited so bookings are essential. To book, please e-mail artscentre@wcc.govt.nz
All materials will be provided.
