Sione Monū is exploring variations on Tongan art with their installation ‘Ao Kakala Ōtautahi. They bring Cityscape up to speed on floral clouds and storytelling.

Tell us about ‘Ao Kakala Ōtautahi. The works are an extension of my experimentations and explorations of nimamea’a tuikakala – the fine art of flower designing – in my practice. I’m really excited about working with the SCAPE team to install and present the floral works in the Cunningham House. It’s such a great opportunity.

What does the name mean? ‘Ao means cloud and Kakala means floral in Tongan.

How did you come to explore flowers and clouds in your art? It came about quite organically and has become a motif that I respond quite strongly to. A cloud to me is so dreamy; it can be sometimes grand, sometimes quiet and contemplative. It is quite joyful to me.

And the art will be in Cunningham House? Yes, with all the beautiful plants and florals. It’s an obvious connection and venue for my floral cloud forms, but I’ve never shown these works in this kind of environment so it’s exciting to see how it comes together.

How did you choose the materials and colours? It’s very intuitive and emotional. I feel like each cloud is a character and I’m a costume designer making their costumes around their personalities.

What is the importance of art to a community? Majorly important, I suspect. For me art has allowed me to meet and connect with so many communities outside of my immediate community. I suspect that is the same for the community in their interactions with art.

What statement is ‘Ao Kakala Ōtautahi making? Whatever feeling anyone feels when they witness the works is the statement. If anything, I hope the joy I get from creating them is felt by people.

What materials do you most like working with? Right now it’s the plastic florals and beads. Second is soft pastels.

You work in fashion, photography, performance and drawing as well as this type of art installation. How do these different mediums influence each other? It’s the storytelling and world-building potential of it all that attracts me to it. Any art form that has the potential to transport me or an audience’s imagination, I’m attracted to that as an artist.

What is your favourite piece of public art in Ōtautahi? VAKA ‘A HINA by Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine.

What are you working on next? I’ll be working on the animation team for a short film by Coco Solid which I’m very excited for.

scapepublicart.org.nz