The calm of Papeno΄It is only broken by the crashing of the waves on the asphalt erected as a barrier to protect the houses on the seafront. The clamors of the ocean are punctuated by silence, and it is in these suspended moments that Tafetanui Tamatai confides in Men of Polynesia.
A RECONNECTION TO CULTURE
Tafetanui Tamatai grew up between the Land of Men1 and the island of Tahiti. A multidisciplinary artist, he does not hide his predestination to creation.
“When I was a kid, my paternal grandfather was a woodcarver and he would sometimes ask me to sand his sculptures. Then when I was in middle school, I went to see a group exhibition. I remember there were works by HTJ. That day, I knew I would have an artistic career.
After his baccalaureate, he tried the competitive exam for the Centre des métiers d’art de Papeete and began a creative, but above all cultural, journey.
“When I returned to the CMA, I realized that I knew nothing about Polynesian culture.”
Ti’i reinterpreted by Tafetanui, wood sculpture
He is more interested in his history and that of his ancestors.
“At CMA, we were taught the ancient way of doing things, with contemporary techniques. Culture is not just about the legend of Hina and Maui.”
With his diploma in hand, he quickly made a name for himself among local artists and was granted a residency at the Cité internationale des arts2 in Paris in 2021. Tafetanui mixes materials, sculpts wood and decorates his creations with waste that he collects for this purpose. Using brushes and spray paints, he also paints canvases that he covers with revisited symbols of mā΄ohi culture.
“The themes I choose are quite varied, but they generally revolve around Polynesian cultural heritage and everything that goes with it: fauna, flora, customs, the environment.”
Never short of new ideas, he knows how to reinvent himself, supporting his range of techniques.
Work in progress, stone sculpture – Tafetanui
“Right now I’m trying my hand at stone carving.”
THINK DIFFERENTLY
If the artist stands out so much during the exhibitions in which he participates, it is because his style is unlike anything we have seen before.
“My driving force is to do something other than what is being done.”
Firmly convinced that today’s works will be tomorrow’s artifacts, Tafe is keen to ensure that his creations have a purpose.
“Art serves to leave a trace, as much of our understanding as of our incomprehension of the current world. I try to dig and understand things in my own way to be able to create. Otherwise, it’s a blockage.”
Tafetanui and one of his works made from waste
Leaving only what he cannot control of the material to chance, his creations are designed to make us think.
“I’m going to take an unusable flower and I’m going to do something with it, to give it meaning.”
THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE AND TRANSMISSION
In 2021, he obtained his professional artist card3 and joined the Hamani Lab4.
“Before, I went to the mountains to sculpt. Now, I have a place where I can express myself freely. We are a small ecosystem of artists and we push each other upwards.”
Believing in the strength of the collective, he also has the project of being able, one day, to perpetuate his know-how.
“It is the logical next step for an artist to pass on what he has learned. We are the transition of thought between what was done before and what will be done tomorrow.”
Woodcut, details
A few months ago, Tafetanui also became a father. A joy that he shares with his partner and which pushes him to continue on this path.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to is being able to pass on all this knowledge to my son, as my grandfather did with me. He’ll do what he wants with it…”
So it is with hope for the next generations of creatives of the country as we leave Tafe; and the song of the waves catching their breath gently guides us towards the exit.
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1 The Marquesas Islands, also called Fuena Ena Ta meaning The Land of Men.
2 The Cité internationale des arts, a foundation recognized as being of public utility, is an artists’ residence which welcomes artists of all specialties and nationalities to Paris (in the Marais and Montmartre).
3 The professional artist card was established by the Ministry of Culture in 2016, in order to give artists from French Polynesia a status that allows them to be recognized as professionals in their own right.
4 Created in November 2016 and currently chaired by Hennessy Maraeauria, known as “Cronos”, this association aims to unite Fenua artists and promote their work as well as organize cultural and artistic events.
