'OTHER' BROTHERS
'OTHER' BROTHERS are Tala Suailua and Mikaere Raimona, two visual artists who live and work in Wellington, New Zealand. They became close friends whilst working upon research about an unknown Samoan/Maori warrior, a project that saw them interview prop maker Tony Boyden, and work closely with the City and Sea Gallery in 2007, which culminated with a mixed media exhibition.
Due to the foresight of his parents Samoan born Tala immigrated to New Zealand as a child, his current new media art comments upon what it is like to be the product of both Fa'a Samoa and simultaneously an Urban New Zealander.
Mikaere is of Maori/Italian/English/Canadian/Irish descent and was born and raised in the UK, he chose the path of inward migration back to his fathers homeland of Aotearoa/NZ as an adult, his current mixed media sculptural art work reflects his ability to identify with others who have immigrated to this land.
They are both highly skilled in their own right, drawing inspiration from a basis that includes fine art, urban art, tattoo, graphic design, film, carving, comics, circus performance, and illusion. To date they have shown their multidisciplinary works in solo, group, and collaborative exhibitions both locally and overseas.
They tend not to limit themselves to any one genre, or medium, but prefer to improvise around what is necessary, and what is close to hand, whilst utilizing their collective knowledge of film, graphics, performance, illusion/magic, etc, to create art that truly provokes a deeper level of thought.
Considering their works one is immediately faced with a questioning of ones perception of reality, for they seem to take anyone who is willing upon a journey of 'OTHER'ness, filled with wonder, fun, mystery and beauty.
Due to the foresight of his parents Samoan born Tala immigrated to New Zealand as a child, his current new media art comments upon what it is like to be the product of both Fa'a Samoa and simultaneously an Urban New Zealander.
Mikaere is of Maori/Italian/English/Canadian/Irish descent and was born and raised in the UK, he chose the path of inward migration back to his fathers homeland of Aotearoa/NZ as an adult, his current mixed media sculptural art work reflects his ability to identify with others who have immigrated to this land.
They are both highly skilled in their own right, drawing inspiration from a basis that includes fine art, urban art, tattoo, graphic design, film, carving, comics, circus performance, and illusion. To date they have shown their multidisciplinary works in solo, group, and collaborative exhibitions both locally and overseas.
They tend not to limit themselves to any one genre, or medium, but prefer to improvise around what is necessary, and what is close to hand, whilst utilizing their collective knowledge of film, graphics, performance, illusion/magic, etc, to create art that truly provokes a deeper level of thought.
Considering their works one is immediately faced with a questioning of ones perception of reality, for they seem to take anyone who is willing upon a journey of 'OTHER'ness, filled with wonder, fun, mystery and beauty.
