From NZ to the US and back: Tongan artist explains why her art takes the hard route

A Tongan “diverse creator”, or visual fine artist, says despite technology advancing, traditional techniques will always be her way to express her ancestry.

Speaking to John Pulu on PMN Tonga, Christchurch-based ‘Ofa Lehā Lama defines herself as a “diverse creator” because her art crosses multiple disciplines through her business Lehā, Nómada Lotu.

Lehā divides her art based on her two worlds: art for her culture and family, and art to inspire the public.

For her first world, she creates traditional and contemporary Tongan handicrafts, hand-painted banners, tooth designs, mural wall art, and customised designs on coffins, book covers and other items.

"One thing about me that's different from other artists is nowadays everything is done by technology," Lama said.

"I like to make things hard for myself and make art by hand. It's kind of my way of giving back a piece of me to my ancestors and my family."

Lehā doesn't denounce technology as a whole but uses it to uplift her traditional art rather than replace it, as her business is across Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

"My second world of art making is for the future of my children and to inspire the public."

She said that her second world's art is the "weird and messy", eye-grabbing and thought-provoking pieces seen in art galleries.

Lehā's last work, Toto Pe 'Ikai - to bleed or not, was showcased in the 2018 Tautai exhibition show And Then What?

Her work featured a Tongan white sheet ceremony from the Middle Ages where young women on their wedding night bleed on a sheet to prove their virginity.

"We use this type of art as a type of expression, or to protest, to speak about things and create a safe space."

Toto Pe 'Ikai - to bleed or not. Photo /Ngatu Kākā/AUT.

At the time Lehā aimed to raise conversation, in a practice not often spoken about, between the Tongan perspectives of older generations and the newer who are born in a western diaspora.

Behind the name: A heritage, a nomad and a prayer

Lehā's business name also encompasses her life experiences and why she aims to uplift her people and culture, alongside sparking vital conversation.

She said Lehā, her last name, originates from Foa Ha'apai which her father is from. Her father's lineage also traces to Fakakakai and Mo'unga'one Ha'apai, while her mother's is from Haveluloto Tongatapu and Fāhefa.

"This first part is dedicated to my family and my roots. [The second part], Nómada, is a Spanish translation of nomad."

Nomad relates to Lehā's experience of living in multiple cities across Aotearoa and the US, resulting in her attending five primary schools.

Starting from Lehā's birth in South Auckland, she and her family over the years would move across Nelson, then to California in the US, from Inglewood to Rancho Cucamonga, San Francisco and Hawthorne.

During her time in Hawthorne living on Prairie Avenue, Lehā's mother would travel to San Francisco for work while she stayed with her father, who was also busy. Lehā, seven at the time, found company in her mostly Mexican and African-American friends after school.

"I was the only Tongan and Polynesian kid in the block. They were kids from school and our neighbors in our apartment.

"My Mexican friend's family would invite me over for dinner every night. Eventually, they spoke Español - Spanish to me and I learned and understood their language. I also fell in love with their food."

A tragic incident would occur, where Lehā and her friends witnessed a drive-by homicide, leading to her parents isolating her for safety reasons.

"I was back in my room and I had no siblings at the time to talk to. I was scared and the only thing I had to keep me busy was some pins, papers and books.

"Everything I felt I would write it down and everything I saw out there I would draw. My passion for art started then.

"So, I dedicate the Spanish translation to my Mexican family, their hospitality, and for keeping me safe from the streets."

The Lehā's nomadic lifestyle was supported by other family members and church homes. They'd eventually return to Aotearoa, specifically South Auckland's Māngere and Ōtāhuhu. However, they'd then move to Hastings, Hawke's Bay where Lehā, fresh out of high school, would travel back to Auckland to study Visual Arts at AUT.

Lehā said her business name's last word Lotu, the Tongan word for prayer, connected to the time's prayer saved her life. A teenage Lehā once wanted it "all to end", but through a single prayer, she persevered, graduated high school and got into AUT.

During Lehā's tertiary studies, her parents were called to serve their church in Christchurch. Lehā said those were dark times for her as she would hang out with the wrong crowd to the point she almost lost her life.

"But I made it out alive and I know it was the power of my parents' constant prayers over me."

Lehā reunited with her parents in the South Island after completing her studies.

Tongan crafts, cuisine and mental health talanoa

Today, Lehā also runs workshops on how to make her version of Tongan traditional handicrafts while also teaching Tongan cuisine at Burnside High School.

"The reason why I run these workshops is because I want to keep the culture alive in this generation. Our family motto growing up was always to speak Tongan at home and English at school.

"Lastly, I'm working on having talanoa sessions, creating safe spaces for pō talanoa not only for young Pasifika but separate sessions for females and males.

"There isn't much support here in Christchurch for them so I want to do it because as the eldest child in my family, growing up with what I went through I needed someone to talk to.

"We know in our Polynesian families that the eldest child is expected to carry the family load. I know the stress and the pressure of being the eldest and also mental health in our culture isn't taken seriously.

"So, I want to do this for our young Pasifika who want to let off a load in these sessions and have that uncomfortable conversation that they can't have at home with their family."

To watch the full interview on PMN Tonga's Facebook, click here.