Sione Tuívailala Monū (born 1993 Auckland, New Zealand) is an Australian and New Zealand interdisciplinary artist of Tongan descent notable for their use of beads and flowers.[1][2]

Sione Monū
Born
Sione Tuívailala Monū

1993 (age 30–31)
NationalityNew Zealand, Australia
Known forinterdisciplinary art
Stylebeads and flowers, video

Biography

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Monū grew up around Australia, as their father's job was in the Australian Defence Force. Their mother is an avid collector of Tongan crafts, adornments and ngatu (bark cloth). As a child, Monū enjoyed experimenting with materials, "Flowers as a material and symbol have always been something I’ve responded to since I was a child." Monū was not taught how to make Tongan crafts in a traditional way, so they developed their own interpretations with materials they had at hand.[3]

Monū lives between Canberra, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, and works across the different mediums of photography, moving-image, fashion and adornment, performance and drawing exploring identity, family and Pacific peoples' queer experience in the diaspora.[4]

Monū has shown their work in many art galleries throughout New Zealand and Australia, including Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Auckland Art Gallery, Christchurch Art Gallery,[5] Māngere Art Centre,[6] and Bergman Gallery[7]

Selected solo exhibitions

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  • 2023 – The Way We Were, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand[7]
  • 2023 – Stories, City Gallery Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand[7]
  • 2022 – Matariki Fetu’u, Kaukau, Wellington, New Zealand[8]
  • 2022 – Volver, Robert Heald Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand[9]
  • 2022 – Kindred: A Leitī Chronicle (with Manu Vaeatangitau), Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand[7]
  • 2021 – ’Ao Kakala Ōtautahi, SCAPE Public Art Season 2021, Christchurch, New Zealand[10]
  • 2021 – Leitī, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth, Australia[7]
  • 2020 – Kahoa Kakala, Objectspace, Auckland, New Zealand[11]
  • 2017 – Kahoa Kakala, Fresh Gallery Ōtara, Auckland, New Zealand[12]

Selected group exhibitions

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  • 2023 – Tukufakaholo - Tongan Contemporary. Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand[7][13]
  • 2023 – Queer Encounters, Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia[7][14]
  • 2023 – Pride and Prejudice… Part1, Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand[7][15]
  • 2023 – Oasis/respite, Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland, New Zealand[16]
  • 2022 – Declaration: A Pacific Feminist Agenda, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand[7]
  • 2022 – Twisting, turning, winding: takatāpui + queer objects, Objectspace, Auckland, New Zealand[17]
  • 2022 – Kindred: A Leitī Chronicle, Māngere Art Centre, Auckland, New Zealand[6]
  • 2020 Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania 2020, Christchurch Art Gallery, Christchurch, New Zealand[5]
  • 2016 Social Matter, Blue Oyster, Dunedin, New Zealand[7]

References

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  1. ^ Mishan, Ligaya (2022-02-17). "The Queer Indigenous Artists Reclaiming a Fluid Sense of Gender". New York Times. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  2. ^ "Monū, Sione". findnzartists.org.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  3. ^ Monu, Sione Tuivailala (2021-11-08). ""We Make With Purpose": Sione Tuivailala Monu On Joy, Family & Tongan Crafts". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  4. ^ "Sione Monū". Scape Public Art.
  5. ^ a b "Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania". christchurchartgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  6. ^ a b "Leitī". Eventfinda. 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sione Monū exhibitions". Mutual Art. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  8. ^ "Sione Monū". www.kaukau.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  9. ^ "Dreamy Era". The Art Paper. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  10. ^ "'Ao Kakala Ōtautahi, 2021 by Sione Monu - SCAPE Public Art". 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  11. ^ "Kahoa Kakala — Objectspace". www.objectspace.org.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  12. ^ Punch, Pantograph. "The Unmissables: Four Exhibitions to see in August". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  13. ^ "Tukufakaholo - Tongan Contemporary". Artnow. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  14. ^ "Every Fabulous Sydney WorldPride Event To Put In Your Calendar ASAP". marie claire. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  15. ^ ""Pride & Prejudice Part 1" at Bergman Gallery | Artsdiary 3872". artsdiary.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  16. ^ "Event | The Centre". thecentre.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  17. ^ "twisting, turning, winding: takatāpui + queer objects". The Art Paper. Retrieved 2023-12-13.