‘Meet ‘Fatai’ !!
For this new piece, I went for a little ‘evaeva, wandering through my memories to capture the feeling of shuffling in your silipa 🩴 down the road after stopping at the falekoloa siania, you just got a new helu and some noodles you will eat dry.
Wild kuli (dogs) roaming and stacks of moli and tomatoes sold roadside, you’d pluck a hibiscus off a nearby tree and continue your leisurely stroll back home to the cluck of chickens and the coconut fronds swishing in the wind, the village aunties beating bark tapa bark in the distance. There’s always a slice of watermelon waiting for you.
Hope you guys enjoy this one!! And feel the nostalgia and warmth as much as I do  ‘Ofa lahi Atu!!!’
 
Luca Walton, an artist with roots firmly planted in the fertile cultural soils of Tāmaki Makaurau, often described as the “Polynesian capital of the world,” possesses a heritage as rich and diverse as his artwork. Born amidst the tropical serenity of Lautoka, Fiji, to a Tongan mother and a New Zealander father, Luca's canvas is a testament to the intermingling of his cultural background and the enchanting environment of his Tongan upbringing.
His artistry is deeply influenced by his early experiences, where the resilient and graceful Pasifika women played a pivotal role. The tender teachings of his traditional Tongan mother, coupled with the diverse perspectives from his three older sisters—each representing different island nations—imbue his work with a profound appreciation for familial bonds and the splendors of the Pacific realms.
Through his paintings, Luca seeks to compose a heartfelt homage to these influential Pasifika women, whose fortitude and elegance are eternally woven into his artistic expression.