Regional Spotlight Artist Profile | Seinileva Huakau

The inaugural Regional Spotlight exhibition is a showcase of artistic talent from across the region. Developed from an expressions of interest process, the exhibition brings together painting, drawing, photography, and sculptural works by artists living and working in the Wide Bay-Burnett. The Regional Spotlight initiative is an opportunity for artists at any stage in their career, working in any visual art medium, to receive mentorship and share their work at the gallery. Seinileva Huakau is a local artist in our upcoming Regional Spotlight exhibition opening on 21st September 2024.

How long have you been making artwork?

I’ve been making work for at least 20 years. I first started at TAFE, moved onto art school and continued on for there. I started exhibiting in group shows in 2010 when I started working fulltime.

What are your favourite mediums to work with and why?

I work with all mediums in particular clay, fibre and scrap materials and anything that I can get my hands on that doesn’t cost me an arm or a leg.

Who/what inspires or influences you? 

My lecturers at art school would tell me “No matter how boring you think your life may be, most people you will encounter will find you fascinating!”

Finding the most mundane everyday objects or forgotten, broken parts stored in drawers and making them into pieces has always challenged to create artworks out of nothing. Collected and forgotten items can often tell stories of people who once used them - that is my inspiration. I find the stories of people fascinating and always try to capture that in the materials I use.    

Has your practice and subject matter changed over time? If so, how?

The subject matter is still the same, but the materials have changed. I thought that ceramics would be my primary art practice but life had other plans. Instead of clay, I now use and weave with anything that I can get my hands on. My preference is satin ribbon, sequins and embroidery floss as I buy it from people who closing down their sewing workshops or cleaning out their homes. I get the bonus of people telling their sewing stories and showing me how to better my embellishment skills.

What do you like most about living in the region?

The North Burnett is a beautiful region to live and work in, most towns in the region have an art gallery or an art group that people can visit. For the last 5 years I’ve been finding out that the region has a long arts history and there are many emerging artists in the region. The artists and arts workers in the region art extremely friendly and supportive of each other. If you need to get out and have a break you can go drive out to a lookout or go for a walk to admire the scenery. The North Burnett is vast and changes from town to town and I have room for my two dogs!

What advice would you give your younger self?

Have a savings account that you can’t take money out of! You’ll need to buy a sturdy 4WD to transport your exhibitions and get materials to build an art studio to accommodate art practices, artists and run workshops.

What is the most interesting feedback you have had about your work?

"Do you weld? You need to make this work bigger and in metal!"