HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - RUBEN VULAWALU
RUBEN VULAWALU
Communications Assistant/illustrator
Fijian
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My name is Ruben, I was born and raised in Suva and also lived in the West during my high school years in Lautoka.
How did you get into illustration art? Has it always been a passion?
I was brought up my grandparents in the early 1980s, and had just started school in Veiuto Primary School, when my grandfather/namesake who served during the Solomon Islands campaign and was a retired war veteran moved to the chiefly village of Drue in Kadavu to retire (5 hours by boat in the southern part of Viti Levu).
He used to love reading the Fiji Times - Letters to the editors particularly. Growing up I made it a personal hobby to trace the editorial cartoons from every weekends paper and send it by snail mail to the village.
I made a promise to my yaca that when I grew up, I would one day be drawing cartoons for the Fiji Times when I ran out of cartoons to trace, sure enough, after graduating from the Fiji Institute of Technology, working for the Fiji Times as a junior graphic designer/editorial cartoonist was one of my first jobs. This was a passion we both shared.
What is it about illustration as an art form that you love so much? What draws you to it?
I have a wicked sense of humour, that’s why I love drawing caricatures as it allows me to bend the rules and exaggerate features through illustration.
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What has been the most challenging part of your career?
After doing graphic design for over 20 years, I jumped at the opportunity to take on a communications role after the post was left vacant in the SPC project I was working in. This pushed me out of my comfort zone. I quickly adapted and my graphic design skills were a bonus. I guess trying to find a common thread of understanding for a specific target audience can be challenging and sometimes not everyone understands but through my art I try to learn how to visualise information to improve understanding. It gives me strength to continue the advocacy.
And what about the most successful or satisfying part of your career?
When through my work the messaging get across. I keep it simple and less is more for me. Visualisation and telling a story simply is very important in the work we do which is areas like climate change, water & sanitation and disaster risk management so its really important stuff.
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Do you think there is a shortage of Pacific talent in your industry?
Yes, here in Fiji we have thousands of graphic designers, but there’s only a few I know that can illustrate. However, I’ve seen some impressive artwork come through from the younger artists and there seems to be an increased appreciation for this technical talent.
Who are some of your favourite illustrators/ people who have had a major influence on your work?
I must say the super talented Tui Ledua and Ropate Kama - another Nep Warrior. We all attended the same primary school. Vinaka Veiuto na vei susu!
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You are also the creative director at innov8.Fiji. Could you please tell us a little bit about the work you do there and why that work is important?
It’s my own t-shirt production company, this is where I keep my inner child running wild with illustrations for t-shirts. Due to my busy work schedule and looking after my young family, I’ve had to shelf it for now as it requires 100% commitment.
What do you hope to convey in your work?
World over, everyone has a voice. I try to empower them with another chord so we can have a sing along around the tanoa, expressing advocacy with sweet sounds.
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Does your culture play a part in your work?
Pacific Islanders are resilient, they are strong, they are powered by customs and traditions and it’s through this I take a lot of pride in my work. This is where I draw my inspirations from.
What do you love most about being a Fijian today?
Small island states face a lot of challenges. We feel the brunt of climate change and natural disasters. We are now experiencing the world COVID-19 pandemic crisis and despite all these challenges, we continue to move forward and show resilience. We continue to smile.
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For any young Pacific people who are looking into a career path as an illustrator/ Graphic artist, (or even perhaps just artists in general), what advice would you give them?
Experiment with different mediums, practice, practice and practice and if ever you're stuck, just login to Youtube.
