Kalisolaite ‘Uhila

Biography

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Sun Gate: Ha‘amonga a Maui 2023, live performance, 16 March 2023

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Ouau kohikohi / Ceremonial Markings, 2022, Installation view, Michael Lett

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Left-right, Left right! 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Left-right, Left right! 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Honolulu Biennial, 2019. Photograph: Ben Carpenter-Nwanyanwu.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, First will be last and last, first, 2018, performance, Michael Lett, Auckland

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Fakama’a (III) (to make clean, to cleanse), 2016, Indian ink, acrylic paint, spunbonded polypropylene (pepa matolu), 6000 x 1800mm

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Kelekele mo’ui (Giving Life), 2016, performance at The Physics Room, Christchurch. Photo by Daegan Wells

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Ongo mei Moana, 2015, performance, Wellington Performance Arcade

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012/14, The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012/14, The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Pigs in the Yard, 2011, performance, Aotea Square Performance Arcade, Auckland

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Umu Tangata, 2013, performance, Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Ouau kohikohi / Ceremonial Markings, 2022, Installation view, Michael Lett

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Left-right, Left right! 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Honolulu Biennial, 2019. Photograph: Ben Carpenter-Nwanyanwu.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Fakama’a (III) (to make clean, to cleanse), 2016, Indian ink, acrylic paint, spunbonded polypropylene (pepa matolu), 6000 x 1800mm

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Ongo mei Moana, 2015, performance, Wellington Performance Arcade

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012/14, The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Umu Tangata, 2013, performance, Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila was born in 1981 in the Kingdom of Tonga. He lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

‘Uhila’s practice revolves around performance. He has made many durational performance works which are often informed by his Tongan heritage. Tradition, masculinity and cultural bias are ideas that ‘Uhila explores. Through his performance works he often seeks to promote a sense of understanding and togetherness.

‘Uhila received a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Auckland University of Technology in 2010, followed by a Masters of Performance & Media Arts in 2016. ‘Uhila has received multiple residencies for his practice, including the Montalvo Arts Centre Residency, California (2018); Youkobo Art Space Residency, Tokyo (2018) and ZK/U & Ifa Galerie Residency, Berlin (2016). In 2014 he was selected as a finalist in the Walters Prize for his 2012 work Mo’ui Tukuhausia. In 2020 ‘Uhila was awarded the Harriet Friedlander Residency by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

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Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Sun Gate: Ha‘amonga a Maui 2023, live performance, 16 March 2023

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Ouau kohikohi / Ceremonial Markings, 2022, Installation view, Michael Lett

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Left-right, Left right! 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Left-right, Left right! 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, 99, 2021, live performance, Wednesday May 5, 2021. Photograph: Sam Hartnett.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Honolulu Biennial, 2019. Photograph: Ben Carpenter-Nwanyanwu.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, First will be last and last, first, 2018, performance, Michael Lett, Auckland

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Fakama’a (III) (to make clean, to cleanse), 2016, Indian ink, acrylic paint, spunbonded polypropylene (pepa matolu), 6000 x 1800mm

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Kelekele mo’ui (Giving Life), 2016, performance at The Physics Room, Christchurch. Photo by Daegan Wells

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Ongo mei Moana, 2015, performance, Wellington Performance Arcade

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012/14, The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Mo’ui tukuhausia, 2012/14, The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Pigs in the Yard, 2011, performance, Aotea Square Performance Arcade, Auckland

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Umu Tangata, 2013, performance, Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland