Lupe mural for Tanoa Hotel [1]
Saturday, December 9, 2017 - 17:35
A massive mural of the Tongan Lupe (pigeon), painted by five artists over the last four days, graces a wall at the back of the Tanoa Hotel, visible from Tupoulahi Road at Fasi, as part of ‘Project Paint the Pacific’.
The mural project was led by New Zealand artists Charles and Janine Williams in collaboration with fellow New Zealand artist of Tongan descent, Benjamin Work, and Tonga based artists, Tanya and Ruby Edwards.
The Lupe blends in nicely with the hotel surrounds, and a nearby tree gives an added effect as if it is sitting on one of its branches. A noticeable part of the mural is the dribbling of the paint, which looks like an accident, but the artists confessed was done on purpose as their "signature style of painting".
The bird and the Fata ‘o Tu’i Tonga design on its left as well as the ‘Amoa mo kofe design underneath it, references the culture of Tonga and its ancient pigeon snaring mounds.
“The connection of the Lupe to Tongan culture is massive,” said Charles. “It was only when we went to Popua later that we realized how big the significance of the Lupe is.”
He was referring to the Popua Sia Heu Lupe site, the area of Tonga's creation myth and an ancient complex where mounds for snaring pigeons were built.
Benjamin said the Fata ‘o Tu’i Tonga design he choose, “is an abstract form of the royal mounds or tombs out in Lapaha and Mu’a and other areas within Tonga”.
It also has a connection to a mound with the Lupe bird snaring out at Popua, he said. “It’s an ancient kupesi well used in Tonga.”
Tanya’s choosen design of the ‘Amoa mo kofe design is from Vava’u and is to do with bamboo rubbing together. She said the design looks like feathers and bird’s feet.
Charles said the Lupe mural is part of the ‘Project Paint the Pacific’ which is a twelve-year long concept, that he and his wife are leading. They plan to go throughout the Pacific and collaborate with local artists to tell stories about their wildlife, birdlife, culture and anything significant which will elevate the island.
“We want to draw stories out of the land, out of the soil, so people can be more proud of their culture and their stories,” he said.