This past August, I had the priviledge of collaborating with the artist Danny Jazz - a long admired artist of mine and sharer of creative things - as well as my dad. The exhibit had been a long time coming since I had come into my own as an artist and when approached by Danny to collaborate i was more than excited.
The 'Tribute' of the exhibit, was a simple and solemn acknolwedgement of the Samoan culture, past and in present day. As artists our heritage plays a big part of who and what we create. As an individual, I knew that i wanted to create something that embodied me, but the crafts of old. In saying this, my featured piece was a two part print series, called 'Siapo Masaga'.
Siapo Masaga
'Masaga' = Twin
'Siapo' = Siapo is a traditional form of bark cloth art from the Samoan Islands and other Polynesian cultures. It is made from the bark of the mulberry tree, which is processed through beating, drying, and stretching. The cloth is then decorated with intricate patterns and designs using natural dyes and pigments. Siapo has cultural and ceremonial significance, often used in traditional attire, rituals, and artwork. Each piece reflects the artist's environment and cultural heritage, making it both a functional and artistic expression.
The Siapo I create, however, are contemporary interpretations of the landscape where I live.
This piece represents the contemporary landscape I navigate as a person of Samoan heritage living in the diaspora. The exhibit that this piece was part of, serves as a tribute to the Samoan culture, blending past and present. Although I hand-carved these motifs and symbols, I recognize that they are borrowed elements of my culture, used long before me and likely to continue being used long after I am gone.
