Vaialofa McNeill Temese

My Name is Vaialofailelagi Alice Tu’u McNeill Temese, I am an afakasi born in Singapore and raised in Aotearoa, Tamaki Makaurau. I am an artist that views making as a meditative and healing experience, celebrating the divine body and reconnection to culture. Using oil pastel and paint, I embody my energy and spirit into bold and energetic portraits of kaitiaki with colours and patterns inspired by siapo, tivaevae, and ei lavalava. With these portraits, I acknowledge the connection to my ancestors and spirit guides and create what I envision them to be. Like a portal into the spirit’s world, their luscious forms are surrounded by vibrant colours, flowers, and patterns of Polynesia. Intuition as my guide, I constantly reflect the va between myself and the energies surrounding the work. Trusting my intuition serves as an unspoken conversation between higher self and spirit being heard and results in a fluidity felt in heart. The process leaves me feeling liberated and clear, reminded of the power and love gained by expressing self.

Dripping with loving, spiritual, and healing energies; my works celebrate, nurture and radiate fluidity and confidence.