Captivated tourist buys local artist’s masterpiece as surprise gift for sick wife

September 25, 2024 9:34 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Clifton Kissel.

A local Vanuatu artist, Alfred Tama, sold one of his paintings for VT18,000 to a tourist, Mr. John Howard, who was visiting Vanuatu for the first time on a cruise ship yesterday.

The artist, who has been painting for over 40 years, was thrilled with the sale, which showcased his talent during the Vanuatu Made Product Week at the Seafront.

He noticed a crowd admiring his work while walking along the footpath and approached Mr. Tama to enquire about purchasing it.

After completing the painting, Mr. Howard bought it in cash, planning to surprise his wife, who was unable to disembark from the ship due to illness.

When asked to describe the painting in one word, the Australian tourist replied, “very magical.”

He expressed his happiness at being part of Vanuatu Made Product Week, noting that this was his first sale and encouraging other local artists to participate in future events.

Trained by a New Zealand artist in Port Vila, Mr. Tama learned techniques to improve light reflection in his work, although he has always been passionate about drawing, which he feels is part of his heritage.

The artist also hopes to establish a drawing school in collaboration with the Vanuatu Qualifications Authority (VQA) in the future, and arrangements are currently in progress.

Mr. Tama has a history of artistic achievement, with some of his highest-valued works selling for VT200,000 to VT300,000 per board.