Niuean artist's work a tribute to famous father and local environment
A South Auckland artist, who will be live-painting a mural at the Whau Arts Festival, says her late father Pauly Fuemana is one of her main inspirations.
13th April, 2023
Courtney Sina Meredith
Visual artist Eva Fuemana is the daughter of How Bizarre singer, Pauly Fuemana. Photo/Supplied
Visual artist Eva Fuemana (Mutalau, Ngaruahine), will be painting up a storm at this weekend’s Whau Arts Festival.
The 22- year-old Ōtara resident will live-paint a mural inspired by the Whau river in the heart of Avondale by the old Three Guys supermarket site.
“The river sustained our ancestors for many years providing kaimoana and healing generations of people. I see the river as the vein of West Auckland and want to highlight its importance.”
The daughter of How Bizarre singer, Pauly Fuemana, Eva says she’s been creating throughout her life with lots of support from her parents.
“My dad is a huge inspiration to me, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the arts.”
Returning for its eighth iteration, this year’s Whau Arts Festival has an open streets twist. Traffic will close to Great North Road from the length of Rosebank Road down to the iconic spider sculpture, allowing the festival to spill out onto the streets.
Visual artist Eva Fuemana will live-paint a mural at the Whau Arts Festival. Photo/Supplied
Festival organiser Jody Yawa McMillan says given the tumultuous start to 2023, the festival is an opportunity for communities from the Whau ward to come together.
“Art is so important, especially as we navigate the Covid era and now we face head on the impact of climate change,” Yawa McMillan says.
“Artists produce work that mirrors and celebrates our experiences and identity; there’s nowhere else in the world to see this expression of our communities captured so uniquely by our incredible artists.”
Speaking to the current arts environment in Auckland with proposed Auckland Council budget cuts potentially on the horizon, Eva is optimistic ahead of this weekend’s creative extravaganza.
“I feel like the support everyone is sharing even in light of the proposed cuts will be historic,” she says.
“Pressure makes diamonds, and I’ve seen a lot of that happening in the last couple of months.”
From bouncy castles to pork buns, with live music and live art, the festival runs 3pm-7pm this Saturday 15 April at Avondale Township.