Throughout his life, artist Tony Fomison (1939-1990) engaged on a very deep level with other cultures - his work used both Maori and Samoan narratives. In the late 1970s he was one of the few Europeans to receive a pe'a (traditional Samoan tattoo).
The tools which were used for Fomison's tattoo feature in an exhibition at the Rotorua Museum, along with many other items accumulated by the artist.
Night & Day: The Curious Collections of Tony Fomison still has a number of weeks to run at the museum and it includes a range of artworks, souvenirs and mementos that give an insight into this artist whose work is often described as brooding or foreboding.
His dark colour palette and cast of unusual characters are thought to offer a personal insight into Fomison himself.
Although Fomison was probably most well known as a painter, it is unlikely that many of those who admired his work knew of his passion for collecting. Over the years he gathered a diverse range of artefacts, artworks, mementoes, books and clippings. These items were sourced from junk shops, flea markets, garage sales and second-hand stores, often accompanied by friends such as Marks Adams and John Perry.
