Loloma Andrews 

Loloma Andrews' nomadic nature has taken her to the far reaches of the globe, constantly absorbing inspiration which she expresses through her art. Leaving New Zealand for the typical OE (overseas experience), Loloma's experience was far from average. Her artistic career began in Europe when an African beaded bracelet she wore inspired her to buy beads and use her imagination to make her own jewellery. More than a decade later, Loloma returned to New Zealand to complete nursing studies but her desire to explore led her to try organic horticulture and eventually jewellery at Manukau Institute of Technology. Loloma immersed herself in the art of jewellery and became a self-employed gardener to support herself through her studies.

'Journey and Memory Baggage' series

It was during another sojourn back to Europe when she continued jewellery, albeit as a hobby, that she realized something was missing. True to her exploratory nature, Loloma wanted to deepen the meaning of her designs, her art, herself. Upon her second homecoming, Loloma completed a Visual Arts degree through the University of Auckland researching baggage. "Baggage" meant investigating migration, travelling, and journeys, things which dominated Loloma's life - elements of her life long before her OE. These factors linked back to her Fijian and Samoan heritage, to her grandparents who came to the Pacific, establishing homes and families there. By deconstructing and reconstructing her own "baggage", Loloma recognized that her art encapsulates her Pacific and European heritage, journeys, and memories that cannot be captured in a postcard, photo, or artefact. This is evident in the "Journey and Memory Baggage" (2003) series created for an exhibition at Lopdell House, Titirangi and further developed for the Inter-Islands exhibition (Waiheke Community Art Gallery) in 2006. These miniature bags made of nylon fishing line were a tribute to the baggage of Pacific Islanders and to the idea that she could be a weaver. Her unique version of weaving incorporated European knitting techniques to produce small-scale morphed vessels, reminiscent to the woven bags of Oceania.

Continuing on the theme of baggage, Loloma exhibited suitcases made from copper for ‘Pacific Island Islanders' (Waiheke Island) and Inter-Islands (Rarotonga, Cook Islands) exhibitions, both 2006. The warm, earthy colours, particularly when copper is treated with chemicals, are linked to the tones of tapa and coconut shells. The worn element of used copper appeals to her and links to her memories. Producing suitcases from this material continues her exploration and investigation of journeys and migration. A derivative of vessels, the baggage is a means of containment but also an expression of the lack of containment of her memories. 

Loloma is cognisant of the Pacific elements that emerge from her art, it is particularly meaningful because Loloma's lifestyle is essentially a European one; for instance she speaks Swiss and Swiss-German dialects at home with her son. Yet Loloma's Pacific heritage manifests itself in her work, something that is more instinctive than intentional, continually emerging on an unconscious conceptual level.

Currently living on Waiheke Island, Loloma complements her career as an artist with gardening. Her love of plants and flowers featured in ‘My Cultural Blanket' (2008). Reflective of her life, the blanket is adorned with uniquely Pacific flowers as well as symbols of her journeys - geographically, historically, and personally. The New Zealand-made blanket, Loloma's alternative to tapa, is adorned with flowers like those painted on tapa are also reminiscent of a lei. A mix of memories is patterned onto the blanket: tiki, silverferns to symbolize Māori and the New Zealand-made blanket symbolizing her Kiwi pride. This blanket is a tribute and awareness of her unique identity, a celebration of multicultural strengths she draws upon during her journeys and depicts through her art work.

Loloma's first 3D sculpture piece ‘Embrace' (2009) was accepted and exhibited in conjunction with the 2009 Headland Sculptural coastal walk on Waiheke Island.

Still out of all the adventure and accomplishments, if you ask Loloma what her greatest achievement is she will tell you "The best art work I've made is my son."