Raymond Sagapolutele is an Aotearoa-born Sāmoan artist with ties to the villages of Fatuvalu in Savai'i and Saoluafata in Upolu, Samoa. His photographic practice focuses on his heritage as a diasporic Sāmoan with cultural ties to the history of the Pacific and the lands within Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. In his hands, the camera gains a voice and forms an oratory that connects to the cherished Samoan tradition of Fagogo (storytelling).

Sagapolutele has developed his contemporary fine arts practice by reconnecting and evolving his visual oratory process to his heritage as a Samoan and his lived experiences growing up in Aotearoa. This process is informed by the lessons and stories passed on to him by his elders and the contemporary hum that flows through the day-to-day lives of his aiga and nu’u (land) in the diaspora of Aotearoa.

Sagapolutele has exhibited his artwork widely locally and internationally and contributed to publications ranging from Back to Basics and Rip It Up to the NZ Herald and Metro Magazine as an editorial photographer. He is a founding member of the ManaRewa art collective based at Nathan Homestead in Manurewa, where he helps tutor and support the local arts community. He is also a member of the graffiti art collective TMD, a creative family of artists with members located in Aotearoa, Australia, and Germany.

Sagapolutele completed his Master of Visual Arts (first-class Hons) at AUT in 2019, receiving the Deans Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Study. He was also showcased in the 2019 Wallace Arts Award and was a finalist in the 2019 Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Awards. In 2020, he was again a finalist in the Wallace Art Awards and in 2021, he was a finalist in the Waikato Museum’s National Contemporary Art Award. Sagapolutele has returned to AUT and has started his journey as a PhD candidate.

Sagapolutele believes in the value of passing on his skills as a lens-based artist and visual art creative. He is currently engaged as a lecturer in photography with AUT and mentors artists from the Pasifika community. The goal is to grow the ability to produce an authentic visual arts voice from the Pasifika community that represents all aspects of his community.

Email: rimoni@orcon.net.nz

Mobile: +64 21 585151

Landline: +64 9 2672911

Gallery Details:

Bergman Gallery, Auckland

Suite 3

582 Karangahape Road

Gallery entrance via 2 Newton Road

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, 1010

New Zealand

Manager: Benny Chan

Phone: +64 (0)21324984

Email: benny@bergmangallery.com