Samuel Tupou derives traditional patterns and colours from his Tongan and Polynesian heritage, to create vivid yet nostalgic works on canvas and board. Starting with ‘found photographs’ as his initial inspiration, Tupou obscures the selected imagery by pixelating and binding together grid-like patterns based on Pacific Island Tapa cloth design. The resulting images are strikingly abstracted. A close viewing of the works satisfies with a vibrant energy of geometry and colour. However, the essence of the original ‘moment captured in time’ remains embedded within the paintings, and with a slightly more distant viewing, the precious found memory can be revealed. These new works retain Tupou’s signature screen-printing technique while nostalgically exploring human memory and image recall.
Image: Samuel Tupou, 1998, 2021. Serigraph and acrylic on board, 120cm x 180cm
