Ngā Kākano: Fatu Feu’u

Papali’i Fatu Feu’u ONZM is an internationally renowned artist, acknowledged as both a leader and mentor in the arts landscape of Aotearoa. He has been pivotal in shaping the interest in contemporary Pacific art globally and nurturing a generation of Pacific artists locally. Fatu grew up in the village of Poutasi, Samoa, immigrating to Aotearoa in 1966. Since becoming a full-time artist in 1988, his paintings, woodcut prints, bronze sculptures, and wooden sculptures have been held in public and private collections around the world. His contribution to the arts has been widely recognised through awards including the Arts Foundation Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga 2022, Creative NZ Senior Pacific Artist Award 2022, and the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for his achievement in art.

Leali’ifano Dr Albert L. Refiti is Professor of Art and Design at Auckland University of Technology where he is co-leader of the Vā Moana Research Cluster in the Faculty of Design and Creative Technology. He is the leader in critical studies research on spatial design and architectural environments in the Pacific, with a focus on material culture and ethnography on the subject. He has written on contemporary Pacific culture and architecture and has researched and worked with museums on Indigenous design strategies of Pacific and Oceanic collections at the Auckland Museum, Melbourne Museum and The Metropolitan Museum in New York. He has an in-depth relationship with the museum and Pacific arts in Aotearoa.