LOTO, TU‘A, MOE FALE: INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND HOUSE

Authors

Tavakefai‘ana, Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine, Vava‘u Academy of Critical Inquiry and Applied Research and Unitec Institute of Technology
Bruce Sione To‘a Moa, Vava’u Academy of Critical Inquiry and Applied Research
Sione Lavenita Vaka, Auckland University of Technology
Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, Vava‘u Academy for Critical Inquiry and Applied Research

Abstract

We focus in this critical essay on the Tongan fale house in terms of both its loto internality and tu‘a externality, in which the parts and the whole are combined by means of process and outcome, with a multiplicity of faiva performance, tufunga material, and nimamea‘a fine arts. The house and house-building are categorized as a material artwork and material art, respectively, and are associated with the material arts of: tufunga lalava kafa-sennit-lashing which is a form of interior design, tufunga tō‘akau kakala sweet-smelling-flower-planting, tufunga tō‘akaufaito‘o medicinal-plant-planting, and tufunga tō‘akaukai eating-plant-planting as types of tu‘a exterior design. Although these fine and material arts making up interior and exterior design are themselves forms of arts, they are in this context associated with decoration as a form of both beautification and consumption, i.e., artwork and art use.

Recommended Citation

Potauaine, Tavakefai‘ana, Sēmisi Fetokai; Moa, Bruce Sione To‘a; Vaka, Sione Lavenita; and Māhina, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino (2021) "LOTO, TU‘A, MOE FALE: INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND HOUSE," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 44: No. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol44/iss1/5