Liu Ke He Mogo Fakapa He Haaku a Moui: John Pule

Return To The First Time of My Life / Liu Ke He Mogo Fakapa He Haaku a Moui was painted on the island of Niue, John Pule's homeland, where he has spent much of this year. It is the first time since he immigrated to New Zealand as a young child in the early 1960s that he has spent significant time there.

The experience of Niuean people have been a central theme of Pule's practice and these works reflect his own experience of returning to his birthplace. The works were exhibited in his hometown of Liku earlier in the year, Pule's first exhibition in his home village. These nine paintings is a response to the lands that Pule had strong connections to as a child. The names of these lands are as follows: Kavaka, Futufutu, Pekula, Tua Malala, Pia, Hafata, Maleua, Tatafa, Fale i Tuamatagi.