Ellie Fa'amauri is an emerging artist whose works bring together the beautiful designs of the Solomon kapkap adornments. Based in New Zealand much of Ellie's work documents her urban migration from the Solomons. The title of each work evokes positive messages of cultural survival that acknowledge the ties to the homeland. Her work is primarlity concerned with transnational and cross-cultural states of transition as between Solomon Island, her place of birth and New Zealand. Arising from these shifts of location are questions relating to different forms of cultural practice, such as traditional Melanesian iconography and contemporary European influences.
Mixing these traditions she develops a ‘soft geometric' of form, moving towards a contemporary translation of Melanesian design inscribed through traces of European modernist geometries.
Fa'amauri's work is now in private and public ollections in Australia and New Zealand including Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Wellington.
Biography
b. 1979, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Lives and works as a fulltime artist in Auckland, New Zealand.
Ellie Fa’amauri is of Solomon Islands ethnicity and is now based in New Zealand since completing her secondary education in Whangarei. Ellie developed an interest in art at high school and was awarded a scholarship from the NZODA Aotearoa Scholarships in 1998 which allowed her to remain in New Zealand to study Art & Design at the Auckland University of Technology. She graduated with a Masters in Visual Arts and Design in 2004.
Ellie’s art practice from 2002 has explored the issues of cultural identity specifically related to transnational and cross-cultural states of transition as she moved between the Solomon Islands, her place of birth and home, and New Zealand, her place of education. Her paintings speak of these shifts and relationships as ‘the notion of constant translation’ as she works towards a contemporary Solomon Islands art. Being ‘isolated in another culture’ was sometimes challenging and involved the need to adjust to the people, place, social living and culture. The demanding Western lifestyle began to play a huge part in her paintings which she reflects upon as her differentiated states of identity, being ‘in-between’ space of ‘self’, which she calls a ‘relocated identity’ in a global environment.
From early 2000 to 2003 as the ethnic tension in the Solomon Islands intensified, this was a difficult time being away from her homeland. In April of 2004 Ellie had her first solo exhibition held at the Reef Gallery in Auckland titled ‘Saungi falu ana i Solomon’, meaning to Build a new Solomon – a call for peace and unity.
In more recent times, she has begun developing work that explores the rich iconographic motifs etched on Solomon art, in particular body adornments, such as the Kapkap or Uluta dating between the 19th to early 20th century signifying status and prestige or related to dance festivals. The monochromatic colours of her paintings combined with the bold, geometric and structured design of patterns reflect the patterns etched on the kapkap. This is characterized by the intricate designs which utilize the inlays of pearl shell and provide the link between the visual and the practical in Solomon art. Similarly, Ellie has taken the same technique as seen in her recent painting ‘Adorned’ 2009 re-producing these patterns in repetitive geometric designs, using the same approach to detail on Solomon art.
Ellie’s first group exhibition ‘Frangipani Lush’ 2006 was organised by the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust which helped to build her profile as an emerging artist. Two more successful solo exhibitions followed the same year at the Reef gallery: ‘Drawing out Connections’ and ‘Pasifika Unravel’ at the Artful gallery. She was also selected as one of the 12 finalists for the Martin Hughes Award in 2006..
Ellie Fa’amauri was a foundation artist of Okaioceanikart gallery in Auckland in 2007. She continues to earn her position as one of the leading contemporary Solomon female artists. Her works have been bought by local and international collectors, corporates and institutions . Her kapkap works featured in three Melanesian and one group exhibition mounted by the gallery in 2008 and 2009.
Curriculum Vitae
Education 2005
Certificate in Business Computing & Administration, NZIE, Auckland 2004
Masters in Art & Design, AUT, Auckland 2001
Bachelor of Visual Arts, AUT, Auckland 1998
Certificate in Art and Design, AUT, Auckland
Awards 1998 - 2001
Aotearoa Scholarship to study Certficate and Bachelor in Art & Design, AUT, Auckland
Recent Highlight 2006
Selected as one of the 12 finalists for the Martin Hughes Art Awards
Group Exhibitions
2009 – “Spirit of the People”, Aug 14th – 27 Sept, Corbans Estate Arts, Auckland
2009 - "Creativity and Innovation, November 09. Heritage Park Hotel, Honiara Solomon Islands.
2008 – “Contemporary Pacific 08” Salamadar Gallery,
2008 – “Taim bilong Melanesia” Websters Gallery, Sept 19th – Oct 11th, Wellington. 2007 Capturing Cultures, AKO7, Artful Gallery Auckland 2006 Frangipani Lush, Aotea Centre, Auckland 2005
Trade Show Expo, Honiara, Solomon Islands 2004
Auckland Home Show, Auckland 2003 Oceania Awakening, Jubilee Building, Parnell, Auckland Top 12 finalists Exhibition, Martin Hughes, Parnell, Auckland
Solo Exhibitions 2007 Paying Close Attention, Portsifika, Dunedin 2006 Drawing Out Connections, Reef Gallery, Auckland Pasifika Unravel, Artful Gallery, Auckland 2004 Translation – Translocation, AUT X-Space, Auckland Saungi Faalu ana i Solomon, Reef Gallery, Auckland
Publications: 2007 Toktok Pasifika - Featured in the Auckland University Pasifika Postgraduate newsletter 2006 Solomon Star (SI National Paper) - Article featuring ‘Ellie’s rising talent’, March 22 Tautai newsletter - Artist featured as ‘emerging artist’ in the March newsletter 2004 Pacific Islands Trade Commission Newsletter - Features artist’s participation at the Auckland September Home show 2003 ANZAAE - Aotearoa New Zealand Journal Association of Art Educators - Journal features a cover story about the artist and artwork cover by artist, Vol 13 (2) The Arts in Education: Critical Perspectives from Aotearoa New Zealand Grierson, E.M. and Mansfield, J.E. Book cover features frigate bird image by the artist
Statement
Unlike most Pacific artists I never had my family with me during my time in New Zealand and that became one of my primary concerns in my paintings. These concerns often relate specifically to transnational and cross-cultural states of transition as I move physically between Solomon Islands, my place of birth and home, and New Zealand, my place of education. My paintings speak of these shifts and relationships as ‘the notion of constant translation’ as I work towards a contemporary Solomon Islands art in a western environment. Through this creative practice, I reflect upon my own translocation, my differentiated states of identity, my ‘in-between’ space of ‘self’, which I call a relocated identity in a global environment’.
