Page 12 - MidWeek - Sep 22 2021

12 MIDWEEK SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
MIDWEEK COVER STORY
Punky Aloha artist Shar Tuiasoa celebrates her culture in her art — and everyone’s taking notice.
T here’s a painting that Shar Tu- iasoa, the artist behind Punky Aloha, singles out as a piece that’s special to her. Called Mother Pa- sifika, it depicts a statuesque, brown- skinned woman, gazing off into the distance as she gently rests her hand on her belly. Her hair and dress flow out as if caught by the wind. That dress is, like a lot of Tuiasoa’s art, brightly hued in greens and blues. However, intercut between those colorful panels are piec-
filled with foliage, that showcases figures doing things you’d see your friends doing — just in a very beauti- ful way. The women are elegant, with hair often cascading or piled high in a “tita bun,” wearing oversized sun- glasses and often bedecked in lei po‘o or gold jewelry. All her subjects emit an unapologetic confidence and grace.
es of tapa cloth sewn into the canvas. “That one is a painting that I created and I had sewn on pieces of tapa cloth from my grandma ... I cut off pieces to fit into the painting and then I sewed
Tuiasoa is an illustrator whose work ranges from prints to murals, choco- late bar wrappers to large-scale cam- paigns for companies like Amazon, Guess and The New York Times. And, while the recognition of those bigger brands are great, it’s the smaller, clos- er-to-home clients that she’s worked with that have her heart.
it right on the canvas,” Tuiasoa says. “For me, having a painting in Bish- op Museum, I wanted my grandma to be a part of it. My grandma made maybe hundreds (tapa pieces) in her lifetime ... I just wanted it to breathe and share my grandma’s artwork right alongside my own. That piece really
“Every job I get approached for,
means a lot to me.”
In many ways, Mother Pasifika per-
fectly encapsulates Tuiasoa’s art and ethos. Much of her motivation comes from sharing and celebrating her her- itage, Hawai‘i’s culture — and that of the Pacific region in general — as well as reveling in her art and those of her fellow creatives.
Her work, which is created under the name of her studio, Punky Aloha, features a bright, happy palette, often
(Right) Tuiasoa at her home studio (Inset) Mother Pasifika features pieces of her grandma’s tapa. IMAGE COURTESY SHAR TUIASOA
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