Monti started tagging in 2001 and got into painting full pieces around 2014, teaming up with RODs Crew after going to Project Legit with Dcypher from DTR. Since then, he has been painting regularly—mostly down trackside or in abandoned buildings around Christchurch and later in Perth, Western Australia. His recent work has been mixing Pasifika patterns and styles into graffiti and mural work, bringing more of his culture into what he does and telling a different kind of story through his art.
About Monti
Drawing on his Tongan heritage, Monti compiles a selection of icons that speak of navigation (‘Folau’ translates linguistically to ‘a voyage by sea’ in Tongan) — tuna, rays, birds, vaka and more — each beautifully carved and presented across the cityscape, drawing the audience’s gaze upwards, not only to the sky which is used for way finding, but also to a juxtaposition of the city’s colonial and post-quake physical profile with signs of the wider Pacific. Interspersed across sites where the artist’s work can be found in larger murals and public works, these additions are subtle and yet meaningful, encouraging exploration, navigation and reflection.
About Folau
