This year's Creative New Zealand Samoa Artist in Residence will learn from a master builder how to make a va'aaolo or traditional fishing canoe.
Visual artist Ioane Ioane last lived in Samoa over three decades ago when he spent six years of his childhood on Faatoia Upolu.
Ioane Ioane is the 2018 recipient of the Creative NZ Samoan Artist in Residence Photo: University of Canterbury
Mr Ioane said he rememberd his late grandfather working in Apia for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, and captaining the Manono fa'utasi or traditional long boat used for racing.
As well as building a ten metre canoe, Mr Ioane said he was looking forward to rebuilding connections with his family, history, culture and traditions.
"It is an opportunity for me to explore my own cultural roots, as well as the art of building the va'aaolo," he said.
"And it will be my first time to live and stay in Samoa for that longer time since I left in 1968 as a child."
The three month residency, valued at $US10,000, is a partnership with the National University of Samoa.
