Story: Samoans

Part of page 5 – Contributions to New Zealand

‘Tapa‘au’ (2nd of 3)

This 1992 lithograph is by Fatu Feu‘u, who was born on the island of Savai‘i and came to New Zealand to study art. His work has given fresh meaning to traditional Samoan motifs. In ‘Tapa‘au’, which is the Samoan word for a woven coconut mat, the white frangipani blossom and frigate birds are symbols of birth and life.