Maka was born in Tonga, in the village of Pātangata and is the second youngest of 12 children.[6][7] His father was a carpenter and his mother was a fisher and a Tapa maker.[1] Maka and his family grew up with little financial resource, but was inspired from a young age to become a professional artist by his teacher, Professor Viliami Toluta'u and Ve'etūtū Pahulu (Composer, Tongan Poet and choreographer).[1] Growing up in Tonga, Maka spent most of his time by the ocean, drawing and sketching.[8] After completing his studies at Liahona High School in Tonga, Maka and his family migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, then later settled in Christchurch where his studio is based.[9][8][10]
Biography
From 1990 – 1996 Maka had exhibited murals in Tonga, Ha'apai prior to his arrival in New Zealand.[10]
In 2001, Maka gained a certificate of Art and Design at the art school in Auckland, Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design. He continued his tertiary studies from 2002 – 2004, where he graduated with BA in Visual Art, at Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland, with both qualifications majoring in painting.[10][11] As part of Maka's research during his studies, he traveled back to Tonga to attain more knowledge surrounding the fundamental practice of Ngatu Tā 'Uli (Blackened Tapa Cloth), a cornerstone of his art practice.[1]
In 2008, Maka received the Margaret Stoddart award for his work in the Festival of Flowers, along with a cash prize of $2000.[12] This further propelled his success in the following year, where he was selected as the Pacific artist in Residence at the University of Canterbury, where he received studio space, financial stipends and resources. Alumni of this award include Tusiata Avia, David Fane, John Pule and Michel Tuffery.[13][14]
Maka's art practice is heavily influenced and inspired from his Tongan heritage, where he incorporates a multitude of styles, including traditional Tongan art forms, from creating Ngatu (Tapa) made from the bark of the Mulberry tree, combining contemporary and experimental methods and techniques, which in turn assist with his general process of creating most of his works.[4][15] Maka's specific style was showcased with his work Toga mo Bolata'ane, where he was selected alongside other Māori and Pasifika artists, including Lisa Reihana, FAFSWAG, Elisapeta Heta,[16] and John Miller[17] to exhibit this work at the 22nd Biennale in Sydney.[18][19] Maka uses the traditional Tongan art form of Ngatu Tā 'Uli and painting to illustrate the relationship between the monarchs Queen Sālote Tupou III and Queen Elizabeth II and the wider implications of interconnectivity between Tonga and Britain.[20]
In 2014 Maka was exhibited in the Tonga 'i Onopooni at Pataka Art and Museum in Lower Hutt, this was the first exhibition of contemporary Tongan artists living in New Zealand. His work from this exhibition Ngatu ta'uli (blackened tapa cloth) (2010) is now in the permanent collection of Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand.[21]
In 2020 Maka's art practice was welding contemporary and Tongan heritage art forms using spiderwebs to create intricate patterns on Ngatu.[22][23]
Solo exhibitions
2024, “TUKUTONGA” (leaving Home,or Leaving Tonga), “ Jonathan Smart Gallery.
2022, Kumi Ē Manatu (Finding Black Tapa Memories), Johnathan Smart Gallery.[24]
2009, Faka'ahu – Contemporary Fumage, toured to McCarthy Gallery, Auckland, Central Library, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]
2008, Ngatu tu 'uli (The Past is now), Centre of Contemporary Art (CoAC), Christchurch.[26]
2007, Papata pe ka na'e Lalanga (It may be course in texture, but it was woven), Vitu Pacific Festival, Christchurch.[27]
