Sione Monū


Sione Tuívailala Monū is an Australian and New Zealand interdisciplinary artist of Tongan descent notable for their use of beads and flowers.

Biography

Monū grew up around Australia, as their father's job was in the Australian Defence Force. Their mother is an avid collector of Tongan crafts, adornments and ngatu. As a child, Monū enjoyed experimenting with materials, "Flowers as a material and symbol have always been something I’ve responded to since I was a child." Monū was not taught how to make Tongan crafts in a traditional way, so they developed their own interpretations with materials they had at hand.
Monū lives between Canberra, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, and works across the different mediums of photography, moving-image, fashion and adornment, performance and drawing exploring identity, family and Pacific peoples' queer experience in the diaspora.
Their 2020 audiovisual work Only Yesterday depicts both themselves and artist Manuha'apai Vaeatangitau as 'ultimate leitī' in a utopian reality, using crystals and beads as currency.
Monū's photographic series Kafu Couture showcases household mink blankets, or kafu, worn as couture fashion pieces shot in an editorial style.
Monū has shown their work in many art galleries throughout New Zealand and Australia, including Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Auckland Art Gallery, Christchurch Art Gallery, Māngere Art Centre, and Bergman Gallery

Selected solo exhibitions

Selected group exhibitions