Johnny Penisula

Ioane (Johnny) Penisula was born in Sāmoa but settled in Waihōpai Invercargill in 1962 and went on to play a pivotal role in the development of contemporary Pacific art from the 1970s. A self-taught painter and sculptor, he experimented with different materials such as the argillite used here, until stone carving became his mainstay. Penisula incorporated both traditional Sāmoan and contemporary patterns, using symbols with significance in Pacific history and culture. Karen Stevenson wrote a book on the artist’s work in 2016, which was published by USP Press in Fiji. Johnny Penisula: Reinterpreting Tradition, was based on two years of interviews with the artist. Sadly, it is now very difficult to find a copy of this book in Aotearoa New Zealand.

(Living Archives, 25 October 2025 – 8 March 2026)