Students worked collaboratively to create vibrant floor mats inspired by the style of Pasifika artist John Pule

This term, Year 9 Creative Arts students have been creating floor mats using traditional wax crayons. The project brought together individual pieces of artwork to form one larger collaborative mat, encouraging students to contribute their own ideas while working as part of a group.

The mats were inspired by Pasifika artist John Pule. Pule is an accomplished painter, printmaker, poet, and writer, born in Liku, Niue, in 1962. He moved to New Zealand at a young age and is largely self-taught, first exhibiting his work in 1989. His artwork is well recognised across Aotearoa and internationally, often reflecting his cultural heritage and storytelling.

The finished mats are made up of many smaller square panels, each featuring bold patterns and organic shapes. Students used a warm colour palette of oranges, browns, blacks, and whites, creating strong contrast and flow across the overall piece. When joined together, the individual designs connect to form a cohesive and visually striking artwork that reflects both collaboration and creativity.