I was born in Aotearoa, N.Z., to a Scottish father and Rotuman mother,
and was raised by my grandparents, Mue Tekela and Sumasafu Petero, in
Pepjei on a piece of land called Vakoi. My birth grandfather was Sau'itu
from Juju (of the Tavo clan). He died well before I was born, so my
grandmother remarried. I stayed in Rotuma till the early 80s when I
returned to my parents in Auckland. I am very excited and inspired by
my Polynesian heritage, and am proud to say that I can speak Rotuman.
I create work that represents my connection with my gramdmother. The
materials I choose to work with are for me the most appropriate medium
to reclaim and strengthen a cultural tie to my Rotuman heritage. My
focus is on creating work that reflects and communicates a visual language
of harmony, beauty, strength and spirit.
I live in Auckland with my beautiful son, Navakatoa, and my partner,
John Pule a Niuean/NZ artist and writer.
2008 ‘Grace,’ John Leech Gallery, Auckland.
2004 ‘Paradise Now? Contemporary Art from
the Pacific’, Asia Society Gallery, New York
2002 ‘Perfumed Fragrances’, Mori Gallery,
Sydney
2002 ‘Pacific Adornment’ Te Papa Tongarewa
National Museum, Wellington, New Zealand
2002 ‘Pacific Bound’, 8th Pacific Festival
of Arts, Noumea, New Caledonia
2002 'Untitled', Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
2001 1NS,2DM’s, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane,
Australia
2001 ‘Neckware2’, Masterworks Gallery,
Auckland New Zealand
2001 ‘Bodytalk’, Uxbridge Gallery, Auckland
2001 ‘Tefui’, solo, Compendium Gallery,
Auckland
2001 ‘Tu Fa’atasi’, Fashion Extravaganza,
Wellington International Festival of Arts, Wellington
2000 ‘Adornment Pacifique’, Territorial
Museum, Noumea, New Caledonia
2000 ‘1 Noble Savage 2 Dusky Maidens’,
New Work Studios, Wellington
2000 ‘1 Noble Savage 2 Dusky Maidens’,
Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch
2000 ‘Pinups’ Masterworks Gallery, Auckland
2000 ‘Prosperous Fragrances’ Compendium
Gallery, Wellington International Festival of Arts, New Zealand
2000 ‘Tafa/Malika’with John Pule’,
Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch, New Zealand
2000 ‘Turangawaewae’, 3rd NZ Jewellery
Biennial Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Hawkes Bay
2000 ‘Motu Tangata’, with Pacific Sisters,
7th South Pacific Festival of Arts, Tusitala Hotel, Apia, Samoa
2000 ‘Heart of the Niu’, Artstation,
Auckland
1999-2000 ‘Turangawaewae’, 3rd NZ Jewellery
Biennial, Auckland Museum, New Zealand
1999 ‘1 Noble Savage, 2 Dusky Maidens’,
Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
1999 ‘Small Sins’, New Works Gallery,
Wellington
1999 ‘Adorned’, MacCleay Museum, Sydney
1999 ‘Neckware’, Masterworks Gallery,
Auckland
1999 ‘Turangawaewae’, 3rd NZ Jewellery
Biennial Dunedin Public Art Gallery
1999 ‘Raw Fishes’, The Physics Room,
Christchurch
1999 ‘Wordworks’, Bookmakers Exhibition,
Aotea Centre, Auckland City
1998 ‘Fisi, The blossoming of the Waves’,
Mori Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1998 ‘Turangawaewae’, Dowse Art Museum,
Wellington, New Zealand
1998 ‘Dream Talking’, Archill Gallery,
Auckland
1998 ‘Fisi’, Compendium Gallery, Auckland
1998 ‘Tekela-Smith & Pule’, New
Zealand Embassy, Suva, Fiji
1998 ‘Lapa’, Lopdell Gallery, Titirangi,
Auckland
1997 ‘4 Artists’, Molikilangi Bure,
University of the South Pacific, Fiji
1997 ‘Paper W/eights’, Archill Gallery,
Auckland.
1997 ‘Plumes of Paradise’, Uxbridge
Gallery, Auckland
1997 ‘Open Skies/Divided Horizons’,
(part of Raymond Tableau), Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tamaki, Auckland
