Artist’s Journey to Reclaim Identity
Mose Viliamu
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After completing his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Whitireia, New Zealand, Mose aims to bring more understanding of the Tokelauan culture to the rest of the world.
There is very little traditional information about Tokelau out there. So he hopes he will contribute to exploring and promoting Tokelau culture and values to everyone.
Doing this through his art allows people to converse about it, share information and offer their own thoughts. There are very few books with that type of information - as we are mainly taught through verbal and practical processes. So to continue talking and learning from each other, will not only help me to grow, but also benefit our next generation of global Tokelauans.
“I like to encourage the abundance of Tokelauan talent that I see all around me, Mose says. “It would also be promoting my work to art galleries, dealers, collectors and art enthusiast, so hopefully I can make a living from it and create for the rest of my life.
“The sophisticated designs produced by Polynesian tatau masters are incredibly artistic. Aside from such visual and aesthetic considerations, most of our knowledge of Polynesian tatau culture is based on the observations of Westerners who, for a variety of reasons, sought to understand or even abolish it (e.g., missionaries) at the same time.
“The tatau of Samoa survived this period of western influence but many other Pacific nations had their tatau banished. After a period of Pacific diaspora, the next generation of Polynesian people are seeking to reclaim their identity and heritage.”
Moses Viliamu is on a journey to reclaim the Tokelau tatau motifs, expressing his findings in his art under the theme of “Erasure”.
Mose’s family moved to Porirua, New Zealand, in 1960; he is one of nine siblings. His mother and father are Pou and Oloka Viliamu; Grandparents Viliamu and Fa’atali are from the Atafu atoll.