Sixteen-year-old William Sauaso-Rasch is capturing attention in the art world with his photography piece La’u Aganu’u, ma La’u Fa’asinomaga, now showcasing at the Auckland Art Gallery and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.
Of Samoan heritage, William hails from the villages of Saoluafata Solaua, Vailuutai, and Sapapali’i. The artist attends Papatoetoe High School in Auckland where he is nurturing his passion for the arts.
La’u Aganu’u ma La’u Fa’asinomaga, which translates to ‘my culture, my identity’ explores the theme of reclaiming cultural identity. The image depicts William ‘swimming’ in a siapo (tapa cloth) while struggling to remain afloat. His intention is to provoke thought and reflection in the viewers.
“The siapo isn’t worn in this way often, and I wanted the audience to see the siapo almost like a giant dress but also with the intention to make the ‘dress’ look like an ocean that I [am] swimming in,” William says.
But to achieve the desired effect was no easy feat.
The process required meticulous planning, experimenting and the help of good friends. The coarse texture of the siapo made it difficult to shape it into the precise placements William envisioned. William paid tribute to his friends for going above and ‘below’ to make it work.
“At one point I had a chair… and my friends, being the troops of this story, went underneath (the siapo) to start moulding it into the exact shape needed,” William says.
With multiple trials and errors, William achieved his picture-perfect art piece, now celebrated in two of Aotearoa’s prestigious galleries. These opportunities were made possible by the unwavering support of his photography teacher, Miss Van Der Laan.
Miss Laan encouraged William to enter the Pat Hanly Awards competition, and within a week, two art inspectors from the Auckland Art Gallery reached out to William for an interview. Miss Laan also entered William in the Ringa Toi competition which landed him his Te Papa invitation.
“My art teachers are truly the biggest help and enablers of my creativity. Miss Van Der Laan really does work hard for her students, and her love for us has gotten me these awards in these prestigious galleries, so she really is the MVP here,” William says.
William’s journey into photography began in his childhood, sparked by a primary school photography competition that left a lasting impression on him.
“I remember so vividly how I felt when they announced the winner, and it was ten-year-old me, Little Willy,” he says.
“That day there was a shift in my life and a feeling of certainty that this is what I love to do – create. From that day forth, it was a planted seed that my Heavenly Father and I continue to water.”
William’s artwork is heavily inspired by his aganu’u (culture), religious beliefs and personal values. He is a strong believer of storytelling through art, striving to convey rich narratives with each piece he creates or photo he captures. For William, an image speaks a thousand words.
“Whilst swimming in the siapo, I reflected on how wonderful it makes me feel to embrace my identity and allow my culture to do the talking,” he says.
“I am who I am because I stand sturdy in the traditions and ideals of my Samoan culture.”
Driven by a strong passion for creating, William is developing his skills by exploring different art subjects in school and serving as the school photographer. With plans to start up his own photography business in the future, the young teen advises his peers to “take risks and be prepared to fall”.
“Just take that chance that’s been holding you back,” he says.
“Don’t be discouraged by other people who have different opinions about your work, God has another plan for you. Live a life with Christ in the centre and he’ll carry your feet.”
