John Pule: Artist, Poet, Writer

John Pule, a New Zealand artist and poet, moved into art from poetry in the late 1980's. He favours the tradition format of barkcloth art called hiapo, a freeform style which includes these delicate renditions of scenes from family, flora, fauna that have meaning to him. The image below offers a striking contrast between the bold vibrant blue amorphous shapes with the delicate trellis work of leaves and patterning. The tiny black ink drawings invite you to travel around the canvas, look closely and wonder.





Cantata (2006)  oil, ink and enamel on canvas

This image below is in a more traditional style of hiapo design, with scenes and elements segmented to form a kind of patch work whole. I think this is really well balanced with tiny elements and more dense patches of pattern. The colours are warm, reds and browns and so the pallette is warm and harmonious, reflecting the sense of strong affection the artist has for the process and the subject.





The following is a link to an article which includes some biographical  information. the writer seems very in the corner of the artist. This artist is new to me and I realise the write up of his life has strongly influenced my perception of his work. I was drawn to the images first but feel a closer affinity to them having read the article. I admire his connection with traditional techniques and a respect for the method and artists that have gone before him. He also seems profoundly influenced by literature and poetry, such as Keats and so perhaps a romantic and idealized link to the past, but a respect for it, in this way, that I can connect with.

http://artasiapacific.com/Magazine/67/OdesOfARestlessSpiritJohnPule