Art exhibition

Travelling Tongan artist returns to reverse stereotypes in exhibition

Friends I Haven't Met is Tēvita Lātū's nearly sold out, 18-piece exhibition of Picasso-esque works at a North Shore gallery.

Despite being established for only eight years, Lātū 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," Lātū said.

Art exhibition relay messages on whales protection in the Pacific

Presenting during a side show at the ‘Whales in a changing Ocean’ conference at the Tanoa Dateline International Hotel in Nuku’alofa Wednesday, the Trusts rep, Ms Aline Schaffar said their current exhibition at the Tijibaou Gallery in Noumea reflects these important messages.

“The exhibition goes in line with the fact that we are celebrating Year of the Whales and we had artists from New Caledonia and the region come over to Noumea for three weeks and work on getting the messages out in art form,” she said.

Protecting Pacific Whales through Art - exhibition opens in Noumea

The exhibition showcases art works by 11 Pacific island artists to commemorate the regional Protect Pacific Whales – Ocean Voyagers Campaign.

"Des baleines et des hommes" is conveying messages through paintings, sculpture, photographs, installations and tapa – providing a reminder of the power of art in influencing a positive change for conservation.

In September last year, the 11 Pacific artists took up residency at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre to work on developing art pieces for the exhibition launched on 2 March.