Biography

Steven Gwaliasi, a born and bred Solomon Islander, now lives in Hokitika on the West Coast.

Steven's unique artwork traverses the mediums of sculpture and jewellery making, utilising the special qualities of New Zealand gemstones like pounamu (jade), argillite, and grey weckie stone.

Having extensively participated in sculpture symposiums up and down the country as well as having his jewellery widely exhibited, Steven has made a definitive mark on the Pacific arts scene in New Zealand.

His works are in both public and private collections nationwide including a Melanesian totem sculpture commissioned by the Pacific Business Trust at South Markets in Otahuhu, and a serpentine sculpture at Westland High School in the South Island.

Steven's Solomon Islands heritage features prominently in his work alongside the heavy influences of the West Coast environment that has surrounded him for so long.

"Rediscovering my own cultural identity seems an inevitable experience when struggling to make sense of a confusing new environment. Isolated from my roots, I needed answers. Melanesian features are expressed and embraced into sculptural works of cultural importance to me. Often I tend to bring out strong and figurative Melanesian symbols - they all have a story to tell. I try to keep the cultural abstract messages in my work, sometimes swinging between the two, from animal representation to focus on the human figure as a challenge and enjoyable experience."

Steven's work moves across a variety of artistic disciplines, from the delicacy of his jewellery and body adornment pieces to the distinctive metaphors employed in his larger sculpture works. His extensive experience in these different forms lead him to share his knowledge in different teaching opportunities as a tutor of sculpture at Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Greymouth and a tutor for community activity programmes at Westland High School. He now offers walk-in jade carving workshops for anyone to create their own taonga (treasured item) in his carving studio using jade found in and around the Hokitika area.

Says the multi-talented artist "I would like to see each individual bring out their creativity, expressed in their own way, and be able to appreciate the result. It's wonderful to see someone apply themselves through the creation of a visual piece of art"