Mr Work, of Tongan and Scottish descent, shares where he draws some of the inspiration to create his pieces.
“Art is an extension of who you are. A lot of Western or modern mind frames, they try to separate the art from the artist, and I disagree with that. I believe it's definitely an extension of who you are.”
“My practice is heavily research-based. So throughout the years I've done a lot of research, whether that's through talanoa, with people or with institutes like museums, and also learning stories.”
He elaborates on the importance of stories in his art.
“When I hear stories, that goes through my mind and comes out in symbols, because we traditionally work with symbols.”
“So I think there's a tradition there, and there's something very deep and meaningful embedded within the motifs. And I think that was how we transferred knowledge from one generation to the other.”
PMA requested Mr Work to create a mural that reflected PMA's journey of navigation from its humble beginnings to where the organisation stands now. This led the artist to pull inspiration from different Pacific motifs and symbolism, paying homage to the fabric of collective Pacific identities.
"When Debbie [Sorensen] mentioned navigation, I thought about painting something literal. But we actually have a form that's used across the Pacific – and a lot of Polynesia – that is a 'waka' [canoe]," Mr Work shares as he points out the symbols on the wall, including a double-hulled waka.
Mr Work has picked up traction and recognition throughout the years. He was a finalist in the 2021 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, the 2023 National Contemporary Art Awards, in addition to placing runner up for the 2022 Estuary Art and Ecology Award.
He emphasises the influence of space and connection to identity, and credits East Auckland, where he grew up, as having a major influence on his life. Of the many accolades and milestones attached to his career, he explains how his sense of self and place in the world is his most impactful work.
“There's a lot I could go on about with my achievements, but I think I'm proud of identifying, giving and getting to a place where I can identify how I am received, how I project myself and how I interact with people.
"I'm proud that I'm at a place where I feel like I'm a lot better at that, which actually makes for a better life and makes for a better work. And I think because of us as Pacific people, the tending to space is very important. And when you're unaware of that, it makes for a confusing time.”
