Occupying the space between, Ioane Ioane’s multidisciplinary practice acknowledges the spiritual and transitional nature of va.

Ioane completed a Bachelor of Fine Art from Elam School of Fine Art, The University of Auckland in 1985. In 1996 Ioane, was the finalist for the Saatchi and Saatchi Art Awards and in 2005 he was awarded the Creative New Zealand Prize for Innovation and Excellence Art Award. As well as recieving a number of public commisions, his work belongs in a number of private and public collections including the Cambridge Museum of Anthropology, England, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, Tijibou Cultural Centre

Based in Auckland, Ioane’s multidiscipline practice involves sculpture, painting, installation and performance and often acknowledges the spiritual and transitional nature of space (the va) as a place of transformation-birth and becoming. Ioane has commented, “Sacred spaces are not necessarily a church, but it’s a place where one likes to be in, a place of affirmation Resisting the label ‘artist’” Ioane insists, “life is too big and deep to consider what I do as being about art or describe myself in a singular way”. Instead, he regards his four children as both the greatest joy and creative contribution he has made to the world. As they grow, making their own contribution, Ioane has been able to devote more time to his work. Creating new collaborations and the potential for public art projects, theatre set designs, scriptwriting and film.

 Ioane's celebrated installation Fale Sa (sacred house) consists of 500 carved cowry shells and three wooden totems that appear to come to life within a watery audio-light scape.  Inspired by natural forms and the poetics of everyday life, Fale Sa (and similarly Maleosi) connotes being rooted to ones culture and genealogical heritage as a source of strength, adaptation and beauty. It is in this same spirit that Ioane creates his performance works and collaborations. Preferring to call them ‘rituals’ or ‘christenings’, he states, ‘I’m not acting, there’s no rehearsal, what happens largely depends on the nature of the event, the space itself and what’s going on at the time’.

Ioane has exhibited in a number of group and solo exhibitions including: Mannequin, Lopdell House Gallery, 2013; Home AKL, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, 2012; I will sea you in Hawaiki, Mangere Art Centre, 2012; Samoa Contemporary, Pataka Museum Porirua Wellington, 2008; Te Tataitanga / Bind Together, Southwest School of Art & Craft, San Antonio, Texas, USA 2008; Le Folauga, Auckland Museum Te Papa Whakahika, 2007; Tasi ae afe/ one but a million (with Shigeyuki Kihara), Fresh Gallery Otara Auckland 2006; Falesa, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, 1999; One and the Same, Oedipus Rex Gallery, 1998; Va, Oedipus Rex Gallery, 1996; '93 Pacific Symposium, ASA Gallery, 1993; Bottled Ocean, Auckland Art Gallery, 1992.