Tongan artist, Visesio Siasau, launched his art exhibition today at the Tongan Cultural Centre, with the assistance of New Zealand artist, Serene Tay.

The exhibition is displayed under the theme ‘1773 ‘Inasi – First Fruits: The voyage of Capatain James Cook to the Kingdom of Tonga’, in reference to the Tongan artwork collected by Captain Cook and other voyagers to the Pacific.

The event was attended by Lord Vaea, Chairman of His Majesty’s Cultural Committee, New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Sarah Walsh, and Professor Siosuia Lafitani from Lo’au University.

“This exhibition is helping to retrace the voyages of Captain Cook to the Pacific, including the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand,” said HE Sarah Walsh.

“Importantly, this exhibition is a contemporary reflection of Tonga and New Zealand’s shared history and strong people to people links.”

Visesio’s artwork is geometric and simple, ‘uli 'i he ‘uli or black on black and kula 'i he kula or red on red paintings, and aims to trigger connections between the mind, matter, and heart at the same time.

His artwork draws the viewer’s attention to the painting’s flat surface but with an illusion of depth.

“In my view as a Tongan, the Tongan Cosmogony amalgamates the art and science of our cosmogenesis of our Tongan universe, this is known as vava tapu or sacred space,” said Visesio.

“’Uli 'i he ‘uli and kula 'i he kula are the black on black and red on red paintings created from intangible knowledge of the vava tapu.”

One of his artworks on display is an impressive 14 foot ngatu ta ‘uli (black marked tapa) hanging from the ceiling of the Cultural Centre.

A longer ngatu ta ‘uli was also on display last year at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Visesio was the Paramount Award Winner for his huge tapa work in the 24th Annual Wallace Art Awards in New Zealand.

He has held Art Residencies around the world presenting his work on Tongan Art and Philosophy.

The art exhibition will end on Monday, 2 October 2017.