The Lau people of Vapula

The Lau people of Vapula

  • Artist

    Andy Leleisi'uao

  • Production Date

    2003

  • Medium

    acrylic on canvas

  • Size

    330 x 240 mm

  • Credit

    Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2003

  • Accession Number

    C2003/1/37

  • Accession Date

    13 Aug 2003

  • Department

    New Zealand Art

  • Classification

    Painting

  • Collection

    Chartwell

  • Subjects

    mythology, islands, villages, figures (representations), Samoans, night, emblems (symbols), comets, birds, carvings, animals

  • Description

    After taking a journey to the Planet Lurka, the Ufological people of Samoa retreat and return to Earth. The Lurkas begin to observe these Pacific ‘foreigners’ with fascination. (Te Moananui a Kiwa, 2005)

    By turning mythology on its head and introducing a futuristic science fiction, Andy Leleisiu’ao has developed a far-sighted response to being a first generation immigrant. He invents an entirely personal mythology about journeys, exploration and attitudes to the collecting of other culture’s artefacts.

Exhibition history