Summary

“Since moving to South Auckland in 2009, I remain constantly inspired by my surroundings, absorbing the sights, sounds, and energy of the communities that have nurtured me.”

Nita Faletagoai is a self-taught Samoan artist from the villages of Taga, Faleatiu, Vailele, and Fasito’o. Nita’s painting works are influenced by modernism, family and friends, as well as their own unique and treasured experience as a young Pacific person growing up in South Auckland. Her work further considers the intersections between culture, religion, community, tradition and identity. 

Creative Process

For Nita’s Fale-ship Residency period, she found it difficult to find time and space to create because of home and work responsibilities. A reality of the modern artist is that they are people with commitments, with financial and social needs. Much of this time was consequently spent in a state of reflection. What the creation process looked like in the end included paintings and sketches covering the walls of her bedroom, art supplies on her bedside floor and creating whenever there was an opportunity to do so.  

“Ultimately this residency has allowed me the space to understand the privilege of being able to create.”

Final Works

The central figure in Nita’s finale work for her Fale-ship seems to be tugging at her eye, evoking a curious expression. Expressive brushstrokes, smudging and blurring that appear in the dominant red frame also appear within the mostly grayscale centre piece. There are hints of blue in the lines of the subject’s fingers and painted red lips, colours that again pop up in the outer framing device. Playing with the canons of expressive painting, the choice to include a close-up of the face, also seems a very deliberate one.