Michel Tuffery
Encyclopedia
Michael "Michel" Cliff Tuffery, MNZM
, is a New Zealand artist of Samoan, Tahitian and Cook Island descent.
He lives and works in Wellington
, New Zealand
. Renowned as a printmaker, painter and sculptor, Tuffery has gained national and international recognition, and has made a major contribution to the New Zealand art scene.
Tuffery has become notoriously famous for his 1994 life-sized work, entitled Pisupo lua afe (Corned beef 2000), which was constructed from flattened and riveted re-cycled corned beef tins. His work is shaped by his research into, and encounters with his Polynesian heritage while making use of Māori design.
His mother is Samoan and his father was Cook Island Tahitian. Being born in New Zealand he has said that he just assumed he was Maori. This may be something that has influenced the style of his works.
He attended Newlands College
in Wellington, and has a Diploma in Fine Arts (Hons) from the School of Fine Arts at Otago Polytechnic
(1989). Many of his works explore colonialism and peoples' treatment of the environment.
He was appointed a Member of the NZ Order of Merit
in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, is a New Zealand artist of Samoan, Tahitian and Cook Island descent.
He lives and works in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Renowned as a printmaker, painter and sculptor, Tuffery has gained national and international recognition, and has made a major contribution to the New Zealand art scene.
Tuffery has become notoriously famous for his 1994 life-sized work, entitled Pisupo lua afe (Corned beef 2000), which was constructed from flattened and riveted re-cycled corned beef tins. His work is shaped by his research into, and encounters with his Polynesian heritage while making use of Māori design.
His mother is Samoan and his father was Cook Island Tahitian. Being born in New Zealand he has said that he just assumed he was Maori. This may be something that has influenced the style of his works.
He attended Newlands College
Newlands College
Newlands College is a state co-educational secondary school located in Newlands, Wellington, New Zealand, and is adjacent to . It is a uniformed school. The current principal is Grant Jones. The current deputy principals are Deb Mills, David Pegram, and James Rasmussen. John Murdoch, former deputy...
in Wellington, and has a Diploma in Fine Arts (Hons) from the School of Fine Arts at Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic
The Otago Polytechnic is a public New Zealand tertiary education institute, centred in Dunedin with campuses throughout the region of Otago including Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown....
(1989). Many of his works explore colonialism and peoples' treatment of the environment.
He was appointed a Member of the NZ Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List.