A prolific local artist, Martin Fakaia is preparing for an exhibition at PACIFIKA Indigenous Art Alliance Exhibition (PIAAE)to be held on December 5 at Townsville, Queensland.
The intention of the Pacifica Indigenous Art Alliance Exhibition was to empower and give voice to Pacific artists.
“This will collaborate with a focus on the freedom of creative expression with thousands of art painters who prefers to participate including Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
Fakaia added the exhibition will run for 6 weeks in Townsville Queensland with different groups of artists in Australia.
He said he attended the first exhibition last year in a little country town of Woodford, Queensland, which impressed him to enhance his skills.
“It was a good experience and an international exposer for me to expose my skills at home doing drawing and painting,” Fakaia said.
“I thought to do sign writing and mural painting on shop’s walls because I thought of the drawing skills I have might help me to do jobs like painter.”
He said in 2012, local artist Selwyn Do’oro spent his time in Australia to see some of his little sketches and little paintings for practise purposes.
“This year I did a portrait painting of the caretaker Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.
“Lilo purchased that portrait, which boosted my confidence to do more and even to improve my artistic skills.
“This coming December I am really looking forward to exhibiting some of my art works at the Pasifika Indigenous Art Alliance Exhibition in Townsville.”
Fakaia hails from Fanalei in South Malaita.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
