Forty-five-year-old Iliesa Latu is keen to know more about traditional heritage arts and to share ideas with other Pacific Island artists at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) 2024.
The wood carver from Fulaga, Lau is part of about 100-strong Fijian contingent to the FestPAC 2024 in Hawaii.
In an interview with The Fiji Times, Mr Latu said going to the FestPAC is to restore and revitalise the “Oceania relationship of the elders”.
Mr Latu, who is part of the Heritage Team to the FestPAC, is also anxious to learn about stories and information on the history and importance of the festival.
“I’ve been carving for the last 30 years since I was in school,” Mr Latu said.
“It’s something I learned through observation from our elders while sitting down with them and seeing them do their work. That is how knowledge is being passed down to the next generation.”
On preserving the wood carving traditions and skills, Mr Latu said not everyone would have white-collar and highly respected jobs.
“Having traditional heritage arts is a source of income and is also a way to pass down the history about the culture and tradition from our forefathers to the younger generations.” || Pac arts2 || pac arts2
