Lines of Life, 2009 by Rusiate Lali 91x91cm

Lines of Life, 2009 by Rusiate Lali 91x91cm

The eyes represent ancestral spirits who live on plants, on wind and in the sea – constantly watching and encouraging people to respect and be proud of culture.

In the beginning of 2009 Rusiate was visiting his family in Fiji when one of the worst floods in history hit the island. The water level of the Rewa river rose 4 metres and both human and animal lives were lost and crops ruined. After the flood people survived on eating small land crabs – boiling them up and mashing them into a soup. In the background, children are depicted playing with balloons, signifying that village life continued regardless. Rusiate has placed his personal trademark symbol above the crab and traditional Tapa designs filter throughout the work.

Rusiate, one of the most exciting and provocative artists to exhibit at Gallery Gondwana, comes from a long lineage of potters, carvers, tapa cloth and fibre artists. Named Contemporary Fijian Artist of the Year in 1999, Rusiate’s work is a sensuous mix of past and present, myth and reality. He has had five solo exhibitions and participated in many group exhibitions. To date much of his work has explored his personal experiences and his universal awareness of social issues. He handles these subjects with intelligence and sensitivity.