Fijian artist takes Pacific philosophy to the world

Award-winning Fijian philosopher and artist Josaia Waqabaca McNamara has spent more than three decades building an international reputation for contemporary paintings that blend ancient esoteric symbolism with vibrant Fijian cultural motifs.

The self-taught artist, who has maternal links to Matuku Island in Fiji's Lau Group and paternal connections to Aotearoa New Zealand, has exhibited throughout the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. His work has been selected for three international art biennales in Tahiti, New Caledonia and Italy, in addition to eight solo exhibitions and numerous group shows.

Mr McNamara's international profile began to grow after he joined the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific in 1998. As a founding member of the influential Red Wave Collective, he received the prestigious Commonwealth Arts & Crafts Award in 2007, which led to a Master's scholarship in Painting and Design at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh.

His years in South Asia became a defining period in his artistic journey. Through research into Hinduism, Buddhism and regional animist traditions across Bangladesh, India and Nepal, Mr McNamara expanded the visual language that now defines his work while deepening his philosophical approach to art.

From his early interpretations of ancient cave petroglyphs to later explorations of symbolic and spiritual themes, Mr McNamara has developed an artistic philosophy centred on three enduring pillars — culture, religion and esoteric spirituality.

His paintings seek to connect ancestral Pacific knowledge with universal philosophical ideas, creating visual narratives that resonate well beyond Fiji.

Beyond painting, Mr McNamara is also an accomplished writer and poet. In 2015, the University of the South Pacific published The Crown of Wisdom, a collection of his reflections on art and philosophy drawn from years of personal writing that complements his visual practice.

Committed to strengthening Fiji's visual arts community, Mr McNamara founded the Volasiga Collective and co-founded the Viti Association of Visual Arts (VAVA), helping to support collaboration and mentor emerging artists.

Today, Mr McNamara lives with his family near Vanuakula Village in Naitasiri, where he continues to create works inspired by Fiji's cultural heritage while exploring broader themes of spirituality, philosophy and human consciousness.

His career reflects the growing international recognition of contemporary Pacific art and the enduring influence of Fiji's cultural traditions on the global creative landscape.