John Pule facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Pule
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Pule in 2024
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John Puhiatau Pule
18 April 1962 Liku, Niue
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| Citizenship | Niue, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Artist, novelist and poet |
| Awards |
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John Puhiatau Pule, born on April 18, 1962, is a talented artist, writer, and poet from Niue. He is known as one of the most important artists from the Pacific region.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to New Zealand
John Pule was born in Liku, Niue, on April 18, 1962. When he was just two years old, in 1964, he moved to New Zealand. He went to school at Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland. After finishing school, he worked in different jobs, including on a dairy farm and in factories.
John Pule's Books and Poems
John Pule started writing because he wanted to share his experiences. He wanted to write about growing up in New Zealand and what it was like to be a Niuean living there. He felt that writing helped him understand his own identity and culture better.
He explained that his writing helped him "decolonize his mind." This means he used writing to explore his own thoughts and feelings, rather than just accepting ideas from others. He often thought about Niue, even while living in New Zealand. He would visit Niue to connect with his family's history and traditions.
His first novel, The Shark that Ate the Sun, was published in 1992. This book shares stories from his early life and what it was like to be an immigrant. He later wrote two more novels: Burn My Head in Heaven (2000) and Restless People (2004).
John Pule is also a poet. Some of his poetry collections include Sonnets to Van Gogh and Providence (1982), Flowers after the Sun (1984), and The Bond of Time: An Epic Love Poem (1985).
Awards and Recognition for His Writing
John Pule has received many awards for his writing and art. In 2000, he was a Literary Fellow at the University of Auckland. In 2002, he was a visiting writer at the University of Hawaiʻi.
In 2004, he received the prestigious Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. This award recognizes artists who have made a big impact. In 2012, he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work as an author, poet, and painter. He also received the Ursula Bethell Residency in Creative Writing in 2013.
His poetry was featured in UPU, a special collection of works by Pacific Island writers. This collection was shown at the Auckland Arts Festival in 2020 and again in Wellington in 2021.
John Pule's Artwork
John Pule creates art using many different methods. He paints, draws, makes prints, creates films, and performs. His art often explores themes from Niuean culture and beliefs, as well as Christianity. He also looks at ideas about moving to new places and the history of colonialism.
He paints on both canvas and traditional bark cloth. Bark cloth painting is an ancient art form from Polynesia.
In 2005, John Pule co-wrote a book called Hiapo: Past and present in Niuean barkcloth. This book is about the traditional Niuean art of making bark cloth.
Exhibitions and Collections
Since 1991, John Pule's artwork has been shown in many places. He has exhibited his work in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the USA, the Pacific, and Asia. He has had solo exhibitions in New Zealand and Australia. In 2005, his art was shown in Zurich, Switzerland.
His paintings have been featured in the Asia-Pacific Triennials at the Queensland Art Gallery in Australia multiple times. One of his paintings, Tukulagi tukumuitea (meaning Forever and ever), was even on the front cover of an exhibition catalog in 2006.
His art has also been part of many group exhibitions. These include shows at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, the Asia Society Museum in New York, and the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia.
In 2010, a special show of his art called Hauaga (Arrivals) was organized by City Gallery Wellington. This exhibition traveled to other galleries around New Zealand.
John Pule's artwork can be found in many important collections. These include the Queensland Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. His art is also held in the National Museum of Scotland.
See also
In Spanish: John Pule para niños
