Artist/ Weaver Sione Falemaka

Sione Falemaka

Contemporary Pacific Artist , Weaver of mixed media) creating wall relief (lilili)

Born in Niue, educated in Niue New Zealand and Australia. Resides in Sydney.

Siones art/weaving practice combines multiple influences including traditional Pacific objects, styles and an ethos of recycling and sustainable materials. Weaving and Artwork materials include celluloid film, kanui sticks, Madagascan raffia, emu, goose and Muscovy duck feathers, fibre-reactive dyes, material dyes, poly-strapping, beading tubing, the artworks have variable dimensions as a handcrafted work of art.

Sione began his passion and devotion to lalanga (weave) through the teaching of the female elders in his family. His artistic practice includes adherence to protocols, cultural practices, and affiliations, and encompasses therapeutic processes in the creation and completion of the weaving. Sione originally learned weaving in Niue and has developed a repertoire for body adornment and woven artworks which evolved from his Pacific cultural heritage.

Inspired for his current work was drawn from Siones research visits to the vast collection of Pacific artifacts in the Australian Museum.In Polynesia it is every childs dream to build the Tau Matua (parents) a Fale (house). In his recent exhibition involvement with the ‘House of Plenty’ the artist repurposed and recycled a multitude of materials. , such as celluloid film strips, packaging poly straps, yarns, dyes, and many other new and found materials useful in the making of his artworks.

In a progression of his work traditions and narratives from cultural practices and ancestral Pacific themes, are a continuation of his Pacific heritage. Based on research of Pacific artefacts, Sione creates new artworks which respond to his new stories created in a uniquely Australian context.

Siones artworks are based on traditional methods and techniques utilising and combining traditional and contemporary materials, encompassing ethical aspects of art and cultural practices. Mediums used in his artworks and adornments include , celluloid film strips, beads, feathers, packaging poly straps, yarns, dyes, and many other new and found materials useful in the making of his art. Background

Sione early childhood was surrounded with senior traditional weavers and he started weaving at an early age. As he was largely self taught, he has had numerous exhibitions both solo and group exhibitions.

Education: Diploma in Community Welfare, Textile and craft Design.

Collections:

Australian Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Museum of South Australia.

Conducted workshops in Australia and Japan.

Why weaving ?:

Weaving offers opportunity for self reflection, healing, provides innumerable opportunities to explore and to develop, maintain and enhance personal professional and community cohesion, identifying advantages and addressing the disadvantaged. Weaving has also been of major cultural and spiritual value for the artist as a way of dealing with everyday, living issues. It provides a spiritual guidance to the artist ancestry, respect for ancestors, artistic ethics, in the theme of enhancing and maintaining Polynesion culture and protocols.

About the wall relief weaving sia tuitui lalanga (stitch coil weave) is based on traditional polynesian iliili from the island of Niue, traditionally used for gifting or at celebratory ritualistic ceremonies.

Originally made a Koha (gift) for weddings, haircutting, ear piercing, ceremonies.

Gifts for dignitaries and royals.

Sometimes created as weather indicator, weather pattern indicator, storm indicator.

Weaving Gifts are generally given and passed on and then returned to the original family, eg: cousins, uncles, aunties etc.

Weavings provide the weaver with a sense of belonging, appreciation for simple aesthetics, acquired through this ancient craft.

Based on traditional polynesian iliili from the island of Niue, traditionally used for gifting or at celebratory ritualistic ceremonies

Lilili medium: Fiji kanui sticks (spine of coconut leaves), dyed Madagascar raffia, combinations of dye and natural emu feathers, muskovy duck, chinchilla, and many other bird feathers. It has been shown alongside my installation work for House of Plenty during Stitching the Sea Exhibition at Blacktown Arts Center 2014.House of Plenty exhibition proved very popular with the Pacific and local community