Page 30 - Fiji Traveller Issue 3

primary school teacher, I would bring them up, and it turns out they are brilliant
painters."
Rova says the transformation on the faces of these children shows the power
of art to change mindsets, build confidence, and repair self-esteem.
My own children were almost rendered speechless—a very rare thing— at
the sheer creativity that surrounded them at the studio.
Shyly watching the artists paint, my daughter whispered that she loved the
colours and the flowers. At the suggestion they try a hand at painting, the look
of excitement in their eyes was undeniable.
After donning cute little aprons, they started their spin painting. Their
handwork is now proudly displayed in our home.
If you are an artist, Sigavou Studios is always looking for people that have
good hand-eye coordination "because a lot of this work just needs so much
accuracy and patience."
And if you are a visitor, the studio is a wonderful place to find a special
souvenir.
That prompts Rova to plead with hotels and other tourism facilities to make
use of local and talented artists, saying they get many calls from travellers who
want to see local paintings.
The award-winning visual artist and her family-run art enterprise has proven
time and again that when the tourism industry invests in Fijian-made art, the
spin-offs are positive and long-lasting for all involved.

Sigavou Studios
www.art-sigavou.com

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