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Stone Maka

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Stone Maka
Born
Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka

1970
Pātangata, Tonga
NationalityTongan
EducationWhitecliffe College of Arts and Design
Alma materManukau Institute of Technology
Known forPainting Ngatu Tā 'Uli

Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka, is an interdisciplinary artist of Tongan heritage who lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.[1] In 2011, he was awarded the Emerging Pasifika Artist Award from Creative New Zealand.[2] Maka's work has been exhibited in museums and art galleries in New Zealand, Hawai'i Australia and Tonga.[3][4] In 2020 he was selected to represent New Zealand at the 22nd Biennale in Sydney.[5]

Early life

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Maka was born in Tonga, in the village of Pātangata and is the second youngest of 12 children.[6][7] His father was a carpenter and his mother was a fisher and a Tapa maker.[1] Maka and his family grew up with little financial resource, but was inspired from a young age to become a professional artist by his teacher, Professor Viliami Toluta'u and Ve'etūtū Pahulu (Composer, Tongan Poet and choreographer).[1] Growing up in Tonga, Maka spent most of his time by the ocean, drawing and sketching.[8] After completing his studies at Liahona High School in Tonga, Maka and his family migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, then later settled in Christchurch where his studio is based.[9][8][10]

Biography

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From 1990 – 1996 Maka had exhibited murals in Tonga, Ha'apai prior to his arrival in New Zealand.[10]

In 2001, Maka gained a certificate of Art and Design at the art school in Auckland, Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design. He continued his tertiary studies from 2002 – 2004, where he graduated with BA in Visual Art, at Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland, with both qualifications majoring in painting.[10][11] As part of Maka's research during his studies, he traveled back to Tonga to attain more knowledge surrounding the fundamental practice of Ngatu Tā 'Uli (Blackened Tapa Cloth), a cornerstone of his art practice.[1]

In 2008, Maka received the Margaret Stoddart award for his work in the Festival of Flowers, along with a cash prize of $2000.[12] This further propelled his success in the following year, where he was selected as the Pacific artist in Residence at the University of Canterbury, where he received studio space, financial stipends and resources. Alumni of this award include Tusiata Avia, David Fane, John Pule and Michel Tuffery.[13][14]

Maka's art practice is heavily influenced and inspired from his Tongan heritage, where he incorporates a multitude of styles, including traditional Tongan art forms, from creating Ngatu (Tapa) made from the bark of the Mulberry tree, combining contemporary and experimental methods and techniques, which in turn assist with his general process of creating most of his works.[4][15] Maka's specific style was showcased with his work Toga mo Bolata'ane, where he was selected alongside other Māori and Pasifika artists, including Lisa Reihana, FAFSWAG, Elisapeta Heta,[16] and John Miller[17] to exhibit this work at the 22nd Biennale in Sydney.[18][19] Maka uses the traditional Tongan art form of Ngatu Tā 'Uli and painting to illustrate the relationship between the monarchs Queen Sālote Tupou III and Queen Elizabeth II and the wider implications of interconnectivity between Tonga and Britain.[20]

In 2014 Maka was exhibited in the Tonga 'i Onopooni at Pataka Art and Museum in Lower Hutt, this was the first exhibition of contemporary Tongan artists living in New Zealand. His work from this exhibition Ngatu ta'uli (blackened tapa cloth) (2010) is now in the permanent collection of Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand.[21]

In 2020 Maka's art practice was welding contemporary and Tongan heritage art forms using spiderwebs to create intricate patterns on Ngatu.[22][23]

Solo exhibitions

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2024, “TUKUTONGA” (leaving Home,or Leaving Tonga), “ Jonathan Smart Gallery. 2022, Kumi Ē Manatu (Finding Black Tapa Memories), Johnathan Smart Gallery.[24]

2021, Toga mo Bolata'ane, Christchurch Art Gallery.[25]

2010, Tohinoa 'o 'eku Manatu – Journal of my Memories, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]

2009, Faka'ahu – Contemporary Fumage, toured to McCarthy Gallery, Auckland, Central Library, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]

2008, Ngatu tu 'uli (The Past is now), Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]

2007, Papata pe ka na'e Lalanga (It may be course in texture, but it was woven), Vitu Pacific Festival, Christchurch.[27]

2004, Talamahu Market, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.[26]

2003, Uxbridge Art Gallery, Howick, Auckland.[26]

2002, Te Taumata Art Gallery, Grafton, Central Auckland.[26]

2002, Art by the Sea Gallery, Grafton, Central Auckland.[26]

2001, Carlton Hotel Ballroom, Newton, Central Auckland.[26]

1998 – 2003, Auckland Pasifika Festival, Western Springs, Auckland.[26]

1997, Art of this World Gallery, Devonport, Auckland.[26]

1997, Manukau City Art Gallery, Manukau, Auckland.[26]

Group exhibitions

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2022, Te Atuitanga - Between Our Cloak of Stars, Bergman Gallery, Auckland[28]

2020, Biennale of Sydney 2020 – NIRIN, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia.[5]

2019, Va Oceans Between, Turanga Library, Christchurch.[29]

2017, Kaitani, Physics Room, Christchurch.[30]

2017, First Thursdays Chch, The Colombo and Dilana Rugs Ltd Gallery, Christchurch.

2014 - 2016, Tonga 'i Onopooni (Tonga Contemporary), tour - City Gallery, Invercargill,[31] Ashburton,[32] Timaru,[26] Oamaru,[33] Pataka Art + Museum, Porirua.[34]

2010, Visions of Utopia, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]

2008, Preview exhibition, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]

2008, Preview exhibition, Temple Gallery, Dunedin.[26]

2008, O'kaioceanikart Gallery, Auckland.[26]

2008, Margaret Stoddart Award Exhibition, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[12]

2007, Martin Hughes Contemporary Pacific Art Exhibition, Auckland.[35]

2007, Maka Tu'u Taha, Fresh Gallery, Otara, Auckland.[36]

2007, Our City O-Tautahi, Vitu Pacific Festival, Christchurch featuring Filipe Tohi[27]

2007, O'kaioceanikart Gallery, Auckland.[26]

2007, Williams Gallery, Petone, Wellington.[26]

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Uncovering What Time Buries in Obscurity". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Pasifika art awards highlight fusion of heritage and modern". RNZ. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka". Biennale of Sydney. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "KULIMOE'ANGA MAKA". TAUTAI – GUIDING PACIFIC ARTS. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka – At the Biennale of Sydney". ArtBeat. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  6. ^ Anderson, Vicki (20 March 2020). "Southern Spotlight: Christchurch artist Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka". Stuff. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Maka, Kulimoe'anga Stone". findnzartists.org.nz. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b Pasifika, Tagata (26 June 2009), Tongan Artist Stone Maka Tagata Pasifika TVNZ, retrieved 13 February 2022
  9. ^ Toluta'u, Talita Kiume (2015). Veitalatala: Mātanga 'o e Talanoa (Thesis thesis). Auckland University of Technology.
  10. ^ a b c "Exhibition of Tongan art at Fresh Gallery Otara". The Big Idea. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  11. ^ Tavola, Ema. "Kaitani Curated by Ema Tavola". physicsroom.org.nz. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "ART BEAT". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Artists in Residence". The University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Macmillan Brown/Creative New Zealand 2011 Pacific Artist in Residence". www.creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Togo mo Bolataane (Tonga and Britain) – Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Elisapeta Heta". www.jasmax.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  17. ^ "John Miller | Arts Foundation Marti Friedlander Photographic Award". Arts Foundation. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Kulimoeʻanga Stone Maka: Toga mo Bolataʻane". Artnow. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Aotearoa contingent shares in NIRIN". www.creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  20. ^ "22nd Bienale – Museum guide". www.mca.art. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". Collections Te Papa. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  22. ^ Anderson, Vicki (21 March 2020). "The artist who uses smoke and spiderwebs / by Vicki Anderson". Press (Christchurch, N.Z.), 21 March 2020; p.C4; issn. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka, Mānava, 2019/20". The Central. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Kumi Ē Manatu (Finding Black Tapa Memories)". www.jonathansmartgallery.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Kulimoeʻanga Stone Maka: Tonga mo Polata'ane". christchurchartgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "The Central". The Central. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Ties that bind". The Press 2007 Jan 24, p. D2. 24 January 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Te Atuitanga - Between our Cloak of Stars | 25 June - 16 July 2022 - Overview". Bergman Gallery. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka Biography, Artworks & Exhibitions". ocula.com. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Kaitani Curated by Ema Tavola". physicsroom.org.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Tonga 'i Onopooni: Tonga Contemporary". Eventfinda. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Tonga 'I Onopooni". Ashburton Art Gallery. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Tonga 'I Onopooni". TAUTAI – GUIDING PACIFIC ARTS. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Tonga 'i Onopooni: Tongan Contemporary, Pataka, Porirua, 12 April–24 August 2014". CIRCUIT Artist Film and Video Aotearoa New Zealand. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Winning Art Influenced By A State House Journey". www.scoop.co.nz. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  36. ^ Naomi Singer & Samiu Napa'a, 6 September 2007, retrieved 20 February 2022
  37. ^ "Winning Art Influenced By A State House Journey". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  38. ^ "CNZ Pasifika Artist Awards".
  39. ^ "Eight Pasifika artists acknowledged at Arts Pasifika Awards 2022". creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
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