L'Art Contemporain de Nouvelle Caledonie

Micheline NÉPORON

Contemporary Kanak artist Micheline Néporon was born in Unia, in the Yaté region of New Caledonia in 1955, and currently lives and works in Noumea.

At the end of the 70s, Micheline Néporon became one of the first Kanak women to devote herself to art. She focuses on the people and the culture of New Caledonia today and works to reconcile la coutume indigene (indigenous custom) with Western culture; scenes of indigenous women with their children and men dancing in traditional dress are combined with tokens of modernity and Westernisation such as cell phones. She works across various media including bamboo engravings, acrylic, wood and ink and has also written a large number of poems.

In the early 80s, after 30 years of artistic expression, Néporon took classes at the Nouméa Academy for painting and then moved on to study with J.P. Lebars at the Scientific, Cultural and Kanak Technical Institute (now ADCK). Between 1990 and 1992 she studied at the Fine Arts Institute in Bordeaux and the Luminy Architectural Fine Arts Institute in Marseille. While living in eastern and southern France she wrote many of her poems. Some of these can be read in “Micheline Néporon, Artiste Kanak”, Paris 1990.

For the past 20 years Néporon has exhibited widely throughout Australia, France and New Caledonia. Last year she participated in Latitudes, a group exhibition of Pacific Island artists in Paris, France with other artists including New Zealanders Lisa Reihana and Ani O’Neill. Her work is represented in many private and public collections including the Kanak and Oceanian Contemporary Art Collection at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea.

Ito WAΪA

Edouard Waïa, known as Ito Waïa, was born in New Caledonia and lives and works with the Azareu tribe (Bourail).

Until recently, Kanak art was best known for its heritage works; a clan’s history represented in carvings on the spires or flèches faitières atop traditional huts. Ito Waïa continues to employ traditional carving techniques but re-examines the way both Westerners and Kanak people perceive contemporary indigenous art and culture. Generally, Waïa uses traditional, natural media such as wood and woven roping. In recent years, however, he has worked on a number of collaborative painted sculptures with artist and plastics technician Adje. Ito is often found making art in the markets; the social engagement of a live audience is an important component of his art practice and helps to inform each piece.

Waïa is devoted to promoting New Caledonian art and artists. It is important to him to guide and encourage younger Kanak artists in the development of their art practice. He believes that, as Kanak art moves with the times, it should also hand down food for thought for future generations.

Waïa has undertaken a number of residencies including two at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea in 2002 and 2005. He has exhibited throughout New Caledonia and in France, New Zealand, Australia, Western Samoa and Vanuatu, and his work is represented in various public collections including the Kanak and Oceanian Contemporary Art Collection at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea.

L'Art Contemporain de Nouvelle Caledonie images