By Linny Folau

Highly-acclaimed Tongan artist Filipe Tohi is hoping to contribute his artistic talent to the reconstruction of the Nuku'alofa central business area if asked to do so.

Filipe (47) is currently in Tonga after attending the Tonga Research Association conference last week, where he gave a paper on "Siounu kupesi: breaking down lalava patterns.

Filipe said he hopes to use his artistic talent for his country, and the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa may be a chance to do that.

"I have talked to some of the New Zealand architects about the reconstruction plan but nothing is confirmed, and I am hoping to meet the Tongan Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele this week," he said.

Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Filipe is a full time artist and sculptor and hopes to influence the reconstruction with his work based on the ancient art of lalava or lashing which is the joining and the binding of things together, or otherwise make sculptures that Tongans can identify with.

"This art of lalava can make a building look more Tongan and feel Tongan so I hope I can do that if I am asked to," he said.

Alienated on 16/11

Filipe who was in Tonga during the riots of November 16, 2006, was saddened with the events that took place, "I felt alienated in my own country."

Before coming back to Tonga for the conference Filipe was in Paris, France, attending a Pacific Contemporary Arts Show. He has been commissioned to do sculptures for faraway lands such as in Saudi Arabia for the New Zealand High Commission; the city of Changchun in China, and also in Japan and other parts of the world.

As a sculptor in New Zealand, Filipe has widely exhibited his work in the Taranaki Arts Cooperative, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth, the Aotea Centre, and Massey Homestead in Auckland.

His work has been shown at the Taranaki Festival of the Arts 1991-1997, the Tautai Sculpture Symposium, Auckland and the 1997 Tareitanga Sculpture Symposium in Wellington. He has also exhibited at the Dalichi Art Gallery in Shizuoka, Japan, and the International Symposium of Stone Sculpture in Japan in 1996,

Filipe who was born in Ngeleia, Nuku'alofa, moved to New Zealand in 1978. He reflected that since the tender age of 10 he had already started exploring art by constantly sketching and drawings what was around him, how he looked at life, the people and Tonga as a whole.

Carving tutor

"When I moved to New Zealand I was 18 years old and I enrolled in a work scheme in the Maori Arts and Craft Centre in New Plymouth before becoming a tutor at the centre. I then became a part time tutor at the New Plymouth Prison before pursuing a career as a full-time artist," he said.

Filipe also explained that lalava is an ancient Pacific language that was used to interpret one's surroundings and represented Polynesian philosophies.

He said that because he was fascinated by this art principle he came back to Tonga and did more research before making it his own. After many years of hard work, Filipe is now an established carving tutor throughout Taranaki. From 1986-1992 he was the carving tutor at Maori Arts and Craft Centre, New Plymouth. He then became a part time tutor at the New Plymouth Prison in 1986-92 before becoming a full time artist while traveling the world showcasing his work. He also added that his sculptures reflect Tonga but also the Pacific islands as a whole as well as the Maori symbols. He uses many materials to tell his art, which includes wood and stone that will say something about his birth country and his experiences in New Zealand.

Halamoana

In New Plymouth his most famous local work is Halamoana, which means 'Ocean Pathway', a 14-meter stainless steel sculpture in the city centre. But despite the fact that he is now regarded as one of New Zealand's leading Polynesian artists and his work is being demanded internationally the Tongan artist is still modest about his achievements and is enjoying every bit of the journey.

Filipe will return to New Zealand next week and will come back to Tonga when he is on his next adventure.