John Ioane

John works in a number of mediums, his early work being painting while his recent work includes sculpture, installation works, performance, and sound-scapes.

John Ioane graduated with a BFA from Elam School of Arts, Auckland University 1985 and is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts at AUT. John works in a number of mediums, his early work being painting while his recent work includes sculpture, installation works, performance, and sound-scapes. Vaka, which toured New Zealand with SamoaContemporary, is a carved canoe sleekly coated with epoxy creating a work that is reflective both visually and conceptually.

John's work has been widely exhibited in New York, Australia and New Zealand. One of his major installation Fale Sa consists of 500 carved cowry shells and three wooden totems that appear to come to life within a watery audio-light scape. Inspired by natural forms and the poetics of everyday life, Fale Sa (and similarly Maleosi) connotes being rooted in one's culture and genealogical heritage as a source of strength, adaptation and beauty, it is in the permanent collection of the Auckland City Art Gallery. John was nominated the CNZ Pacific Arts award for innovation and excellence in 2005 and performed at the 2004 opening of "Paradise Now" at the Asia Society Gallery in New York. A retrospective of John's work and a new installation piece is being exhibited at the Whangarei Museum in 2009.

 

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