John Pule

John Pule was born in Liku, Niue in 1962; a small pacific island nation. He arrived in New Zealand at the age of 2 in 1964. After reading the work of Hone Tuwahre, John Pule began writing poetry at the age of 17 because he liked to project his feelings and emotions. Pule has published poetry including Sonnets to Van Gogh and Providence (1982), Flowers after the Sun (1984) and Bond of Time (1985). http://www.papergraphica.co.nz/artist_detail.asp?id=20

He has always loved drawing and is a fan of the bible because of its terrifying, provocative literature. He started painting at the age of 25 with the encouragement of artist Tony Fomison. His first paintings were influenced by the Nuiean tapa cloth, where he would paint pictures that would both reflect and relate to the religion of his own culture. In 2002 he created a series titled ‘Cloud Series’, where he would incorporate stepping stones into his work to not only portray another level of life but to show the struggles and pain people go through to achieve their goals in life. This is where the clouds came into effect as they were used as a means of transportation as well as a place of rest. Throughout his illustrations I found it different that he likes to create his own plants and mythological creatures, in reference to the dangers of life.

I enjoyed listening to some of the poems John read out today, I particularly liked the illustrations that were drawn in ink. He doesn’t rely on a computer like most of us do these days; instead he handwrites all his poetry. He is inspired by the ocean as this is his concrete theme for his latest exhibition titled “Nothing must remain”, an exhibition about the ocean and how it is there to connect us, not to separate us.

John Pule considers New Zealand as his first home as it is rich in history and exchange, Niue is his second home. John prefers writing to painting. Influential memories, thoughts, emotions, personal history, current affairs, war and religion all assist him in the creation of his paintings and his poetry. Penguin have published two of his novels titled The Shark That Ate the Sun and Burn my Head.

Pule has held residencies at the Cultural Museum in Rarotonga in 2003, and at Galerie Romerapotheke in Zurich, Germany in 2005. His work has also been represented in two Asia – Pacific Triennials at the Queensland Art Gallery. In 2004 he exhibited as part of Paradise Now! At the Asia Society in New York – the largest exhibition of New Zealand art held since Te Maori in 1984. In 2004 he was honoured with the prestigious Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. http://www.spark.net.nz/?p=115


I enjoyed this seminar because it showed how someone’s past can influence their paintings and poetry.