blakkbyrd

01 February 2007

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My art practice revolves around the use of layers, pattern and colour. I use patterns directly derived from and inspired by traditional Tongan tapa design, set against bright plastic colours and found imagery from western popular culture. The resulting artwork reflects contemporary dilemmas of cultural identity. To produce my work I predominately use the medium of photographic silkscreen on perspex and plastics, using such commercial / light industrial materials allows me to further explore and portray the plasticity of western culture. My work is heavily inspired by traditional Tongan and Pacific Island Tapa cloth design. I have incorporated design elements such as layers of pattern and repetition of symbols and motifs into my work to create new tapa which speaks of immigration, westernisation and identity within a global context.

http://www.janmantonart.com/galleries/Samuel%20Tupou/index.htm

Critical essay by Kris Carlon 2005

Review by Steve Tonkin 2005

Samuel Tupou CV 2006

31 January 2007

strafe - melbourne

three days in melbourne was not enough - daytime doing museums and galleries, evenings taking in the street art.

we had the pleasure of hooking up with strafe whilst in town and were given an amazing tour of the best of Melbourne's backstreets - which I'm hoping to share with you in the coming weeks

I have a preselected list of artists to feature, the galleries that are sympathetic to street art, and some websites to look out for- Its all from strafe - its all very good

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this is strafe