Saumo Puapuaga

Sāmoan American Painter

Postcards Unlocked #16

My art inspiration focuses on the concept of family and the diaspora of culture.  It seeks to express how contemporary Sāmoans accommodate a shift in history to upkeep the olden traditions of Fa’a Sāmoa and fa’alavelave.  My art is reminiscent of the earliest Sāmoan traditional motifs used in siapo and tatau.  It merges the present-day Sāmoan way of living and its distant past.  Moreover, it’s a depiction of how over time the traditions that maintained our communities have evolved to adapt to the influences of the modern world.  It is a storyline of how my people struggle to maintain their cultural identity and journey to find their place in a fast changing world. 

As such, my quick and methodical process demonstrates this cultural change.  It is decorative, rhythmic, and symbolic. 

It is my perspective of the human condition shaped by my triumphs, heartbreaks, and love.  Each canvas is coloured by nature, the beauty of island living and its connection to human care and dignity. My collection tells a story of coming of age and my grappling with the elusiveness of cultural identity and hope. 

Saumo Online
Facebook: Artby Saumo|Instagram: @artbysaumo

The Postcards Unlocked Collection
View Saumo’s original postcard here.

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