Hautaha

Hautaha means coming together, and in this three-metre tall sculpture, artist Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi weaves together history, philosophy and culture – humanity coming together is at its core. Layered both physically and metaphorically, this stacked steel-tube sculpture is based on lalava, the traditional Tongan art of joining and binding. Recognised as a master craftsman in this artform, Tohi defines lalava as the intersection of two lines, always with a male and female line, which become a metaphor for the ways of the world. Hautaha’s form is female and welcomes and embraces residents and visitors to the Onehunga community.

Lalava is also used in making houses and boats, both of which bring people together. The binding patterns used in this sculpture are symbolic of human interaction, which stretch from the past right up into the present; from early Māori and colonising Europeans through to Pacific Islanders migrating to the region.

Hautaha was unveiled in 2004 and was one of a series of artworks incorporated into the new Onehunga Library and Community Centre complex. During the project, Tohi worked with local Tongan youth, leading workshops in traditional lalava.

"It's about binding people together too – all the cultures in Onehunga," says Tohi.