Allyson Hamblett profiles fellow artist
Ela Tukuhaukava
Ela Tukuhaukava has been at Māpura Studios for about 2 years, but did a music course for about 4 years, which was run by Māpura Tutor Stefan Neville.
Ela is a creative soul who’s positivity radiates out to all those around her.
Ela enjoys everything that is creative. Her creativity has become a way of life for Ela Tukuhaukava.
The artist enjoys painting and ink work and creative writing.
She finds creativity a good way to deal with stress, anger and anxiety and Ela really enjoys throwing paint onto paper.
She enjoys colouring in books, and designing / imagining wedding dresses, the type that Cinderella would wear.
Ela was born in New Zealand, but travelled to Australia and Tonga.
Her life in Tonga has helped shape and develops Ela’s creativity and art practice.
She likes playing music and dancing in the Tongan way. Ela demonstrated this at one of Mapura Studio’s end of year Christmas parties in a Hula dress that Ela made.
Image: Ela Dancing
Image: Untitled Drawing Ela Tukuhaukava
She has studied a number of courses at Manukau Institute of Technology, which has focused on life skills and keeping well.
Ela enjoyed studying Maori culture at school, and made kites.
Ela was as a teacher aide at Mt Richmond School in Otahuhu and other schools in South Auckland. This also involved supporting art classes, helping children to draw.
Ela enjoys learning and developing new skills.
The course have included Art course, Life skills, Gardening and Sexual harassment.
Ela really likes showing her work through Māpura Exhibition Programme and selling her works. She loves coming to Māpura, meeting other people and seeing their art work.
Ela attends Studio Practice on Wednesday morning at Māpura Studios and is considering joining the Creative Music course run by Māpura Studios.
Studio Practice is aimed at our more experienced, long-term artists.
They work in a self-directed manner, identifying and developing ideas of their own choosing; they are encouraged to gather resources and undertake simple research towards their work.
Many of the artists become very enthused about this – and are dedicated in their research, exploring new ideas and ways of working not only in the studio but at home.