The death of English painter John Poynton in adopted homeland of Samoa, last month in his home on the falls of Mt Vaea in the village of Palisi.
John lived in Samoa from the 1970s and once had a ram-shackled gallery on the foreshore near the Government buildings on Beach Road. In more recent years he fell upon what he freely admitted ,in a matter of fact way, were hard times. He had unsuccessful surgery in Samoa to correct a sight problem, he described the operation as a 'botch up' which left him with poor vision and he was frustrated by needing to use his pencil or paint brush with his 'good' eye only centimetres from the work while holding his 'bad' eye closed.
The last time I saw him he was walking out from a fast food store holding his portfolio of paintings and drawings in one arm and food in his free hand just brought with money from the sale of some drawings and paintings. I didn't know the man well but by some good fortune some in my family did, seeing him reminded me of the many writers and artists that have come under the spell of the South Pacific and who, like John, were devoted to their work in an exotic life-style that endlessly changed shape in one's imagination.
Salute John
It is good to read that someone has made a public comment abuot John. I knew John quite well and visited him in late 2010. I had known John for 15 or more years when he was in his fale on Beach Road.
ReplyDeleteThanks anonymous. If you ever feel inclined please feel free to share any stories about John. It was a pleasure for me to meet the man however fleetingly. Fortunately I have access to some of his drawings and paintings, one in particular is becoming something of a favourite of mine. With permission I may enter it on here sometime for others to enjoy. I hope his life will be long celebrated through his work and for the romance of becoming lost (or perhaps found, however you may look at it) in the Pacific.
ReplyDeleteIt was sad to hear John Poynton had passed away. I was recently in Samoa and expected him to be sitting by the poolside at Aggie's quietly chatting to people about his art. When he didn't show I asked around and heard the news. We have purchased a few of his pieces over the past 8 years. He certainly had a passion for his adopted homeland, which is evident in alot of his art works. Go well on your journey John...
ReplyDeleteI am certainly saddened to hear of John's passing - but thank you for posting a public tribute to the man. I had the pleasure of meeting John on a number of occasions during my time in Samoa. His artwork (to me) was simply amazing. I couldn't get over how simply he could depict the Samoan landscape with the touch of a pen or the stroke of a brush. I, for one, will celebrate his life through his artworks that hang proudly around my house. All the best John.
ReplyDeleteThe things which have fixated me about John's work is not only their apparent simplicity but the underlying patterns which feature lust, primal recognition that the islands (and John's Samoa in particular) remain as a romantic, sometimes tragic mirror from the beginning of time. He was able to celebrate what others might see as the primitive. He appears to have been immersed and taken by the pure pleasure and excitment of being able to witness and transcribe to art the doorsteps of time.
ReplyDeleteOh what?, you're kidding me ? I didn't know. I'm truly sad to hear that.
ReplyDeleteI met John many times over the years and I always like the frank way in which he spoke of his life and problems. I last saw him in 2010 and (once again bought a couple of pictures off him) he was sharing with me his worry and concern over his afakasi son who was getting into mischief with the law. Does anyone know how he is these days?
Having lived and worked in Samoa for years at a time, mainly in one of the back villages clearing and growing on my plantation, John was a living reminder to me of what could happen if I stayed on the island for too long. I knew I needed to get away for my sanity, back to civilisation at least for a while. if only to speak english again and to have a normal conversation about ordinary western things. Now I need to get away from civilisation again (go figure) so will be moving back later in 2012.
Never the less, an observation that I have made about palagis, like myself who live in the islands for any length of time is the fact that these people always have an interesting story to tell. The people who tend to play it safe and cover all their bases and won't take a chance in life are usually the people you pass in the street each day living there safe predictable BORING life out. To what end?
One thing about John, he didn't play it safe and in many ways , Truly lived!
Viia le Atua!
Al
Thank for sharing that Al.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about John's afakasi son, perhaps someone will read this and let us know - the son himself hopefully.
Your story sounds fantastic in itself. As you know the jokes about the back villages abound, my motherinlaw often describing any persons difficulties as resulting from living in the 'back villages' or out the back. I much admired the plantation workers and as you know many land holders 'out the back' run small farms and plantations which are very self-sufficient.
I've worked in Samoa and American Samoa a few times on enviromental 'projects' and had the rare distinction of a major confrontation with the Minister of the Post Office, who as you may know was later convicted for his role in the killing of an MP.
Your discription of live there is classic. You may have at sometime met Professor Kurt Durring who was in a dispute for some years with the PM who wouldn't return his passport.
No John did not use safety, and the description of the artist generally is of someone prepared to explore and expose their inner selves. John did that in style, his lack of conservatism in many ways would shock others. Additionally that lack of conservatism could also induce a patronising attitude from some toward John, as though he were a little bit odd when in reality he completely owned his own life with a rare courage - the man walking the streets most often dressed in white and carrying his newest sketches and paintings as if they were his life itself.
Nice to hear from you. If you do return to your 'other' life again please consider sending the odd account of how things are going which I'm sure will be of great interest.
Faafetai
Brian.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know about John travelling to Greece in the early 70's? I have 2 beautiful large watercolours with Greek themes one dated 1971 and the other dated 1974. Was he in Greece before going to Samoa? I would like to know more about the man and his work. Extremely talented!
Thanks,
Pandos
I have 2 paintings from John Poynton dated 1970. They were bought from John in Greece while he painted in Mykonos. My aunt purchased them directly from him in 1970
DeleteI know a lot about John - and his paintings in Greece and Canada. I met him in the summer of 1970, in the village of Perce, Quebec. He had been kicked out of Greece he had fired a speargun at his girlfriend's brother-in-law who was trying to keep them apart. After being kicked out of Greece, he began sketching portraits of tourists to earn money to get to Canada.
DeleteLater that summer he looked me up in Toronto. He lived there over the winter and we hung out together. In the spring, he went to Prince Edward Island, where I visited.
He was living in a the loft of a barn and paining bucolic scenes. He earned money doing potraits at island carnivals. He complained about Canadian scenery, that it didn't inspire him -- it was too green. He said I should see his paintings in Greece.
At the end of the summer he traveled to the South Seas. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of Paul Gaugin, who was his hero.
In 1977, I visited the island of Mykonos in Greece. I visited the cafe where he had left most of his unsold paintings. They were hanging on a wall. I understood what he meant when he said the landscape of Canada failed to inspire him. The ones in Greece were beautiful, full of color and feeling. They may still be there, though I don't remember the name of the cafe.
I have two of his paintings. One an acrylic of an abandoned house on Isle Bonaventure across from Perce. The other is a watercolor from Pago Pago he sent me in 1974.
Richard Lapointe
rlapointe2003@gmail.com
www.beavercoatsandguns.com
Thanks Richard. Complaining about the Canadian landscape might indicate why he preferred Greece and Samoa to paint rather than something similar to the landscapes of his country of birth. Nice to know of your personal relationship with him. He certainly didn't seem to do thing by halves. He knew what he wanted to paint, he captures a lot about the character of Samoans in his many Samoan paintings. I think he was deeply insightful of their character, possibly the reason why he appears to have painted less scenes and more people in the Samoa part of his life.
DeleteCheers for your memories.
Would love to see these painting Pandos. My email is fanie.flocas@gmail.com
DeleteI have known John very well since I was a Peace Corps volunteer in 1978-1980.
ReplyDeleteJohn travelled in Greece before he came to Samoa,he even jumped a train while there and spent a brief period of time in A Greek jail for illegal entry..
He had two Samoan wives and three sons. A set of the sons are twins,. One is in England working in a small shop, the other is a rugby player in... France...I think? The third is in and out of jail in Samoa. John had an exceedingly difficult time with his boys and his wives.
I had remained in contact with him over the years and have volumes of letters from him. My house is filled with his paintings/ drawings and it looks like a museum to his work.
My wife and I taught in American Samoa from 1985-1987 and John always stayed with us - he gave us a painting or drawing with each stay.
My 12 year-0ld daughter and I spent a night in his "new" house on Mnt Vaia in 2004. We called it the night of a thousand noises. My daughter was horrified at the baying of the dogs, the jungle wasps and the B-52 sized mosquities. But for me it was a night in John's simple life.
In April 2008 I went back to Samoa and spent time with John, mostly sitting with him at Aggies, or one of the new burger joints on Beach Road. I always brought requested painting supplies for him. In return he'd give me a painting. He was always on poverty's doorstep.
His passing saddens me to the bone. He was one of the few who gave up all for art and survived just barely with his pencil and brush.
I have one less reason to visit Samoa now.
Thanks for this site
Paul Karrer
Teacher
Monterey California
Peace Corps Group 27
Pkarrer123@yahoo.com
I just came back from Mykonos Greece(July 2018)after last setting foot on this magnificent island in 1996! One of the main things that drew me back as I was only there unfortunately for less than 2 days was to go to a local tiny hotel right in the centre of town that had left an amazing impression on me back 22 years ago. It seemed like a dream but back in 1996 I fell in love in Mykonos and also with Mykonos which naturally led me to spend a lot of time there. During winter almost all the hotels were shut however by chance we found this tiny little family-owned place which had once been their house but now was a very cosy inn. I'll never forget seeing the many, many magnificent paintings on the walls throughout this place and when I enquired about them I was told that a young American painter spent several years in the early 70's on this island living with these people. They fed him and looked after him and when he eventually departed he gave them all the paintings he had left. I've always remembered how magnificent they were and always hoped I would see them again. When I arrived back after so many years away it was very hard to get my bearings however I wandered around for quite a while and almost stumbled across the old hotel. The owner had passed away and his son was now running the business but the charming paintings that actually enchanted me so long ago were still there. This time I came prepared with a camera and also zoomed in on his signature which clearly said:John Poynton- which is how I found this website. I so much wanted to know more about this man whose work set such an indelible imprint in my mind. thank you for telling me a little about his story- it sounds like he had a tough life but unfortunately this is a common theme amongst so many tortured creative beings.I don't know why but I felt as much when I set eyes on his wonderful paintings that remained frozen in time within me without even a photo to aid my memory. I have photos to share and would love to see any more of his work.In the unlikely chance anyone wishes to sell one their paintings I would very much appreciate being contacted. Thank you Paul for describing so poignantly the essence of this lovely soul-somehow it shines through,even in the very few paintings I have seen but will forever remember and be mesmerised by their magic!
DeleteI just came back from Mykonos Greece(July 2018)after last setting foot on this magnificent island in 1996! One of the main things that drew me back as I was only there unfortunately for less than 2 days was to go to a local tiny hotel right in the centre of town that had left an amazing impression on me back 22 years ago. It seemed like a dream but back in 1996 I fell in love in Mykonos and also with Mykonos which naturally led me to spend a lot of time there. During winter almost all the hotels were shut however by chance we found this tiny little family-owned place which had once been their house but now was a very cosy inn. I'll never forget seeing the many, many magnificent paintings on the walls throughout this place and when I enquired about them I was told that a young English painter spent several years in the early 70's on this island living with these people. They fed him and looked after him and when he eventually departed he gave them all the paintings he had left. I've always remembered how magnificent they were and always hoped I would see them again. When I arrived back after so many years away it was very hard to get my bearings however I wandered around for quite a while and almost stumbled across the old hotel. The owner had passed away and his son was now running the business but the charming paintings that actually enchanted me so long ago were still there. This time I came prepared with a camera and also zoomed in on his signature which clearly said:John Poynton- which is how I found this website. I so much wanted to know more about this man whose work set such an indelible imprint in my mind. Thank you for telling me a little about his life story- it sounds like he had a tough life but unfortunately this is a common theme amongst so many tortured creative beings. I don't know why but I sensed as much when I set eyes on his wonderful paintings that remained frozen in time within me without even a photo to aid my memory. I have photos to share and would love to see any more of his work or especially a photo of the man himself. In the unlikely chance anyone wishes to sell one their paintings I would very much appreciate being contacted. Thank you Paul for describing so poignantly the essence of this lovely soul-somehow it shines through,even in the very few paintings I have seen but will forever remember and remain mesmerised by their magic! Email: fanie.flocas@gmail.com
DeleteInteresting return after 20 years and to find the paintings intact must have been very pleasant. I recall that John was English so it may well be that those at Mykonos didn't realise. We have purchased another of John's paintings of an evening sky painted in Tonga in 1976 but it is not hung yet although we have discussed the place for where it hang.
DeleteThanks for that Paul, and for answering Pandos's question about Greece, and whose paintings by John, with a Greek theme, would be fascinating to view.
ReplyDeleteThose B-52 sized mosquitoes still abound. Aah, I can imagine the gossip between his wifes and their families, no doubt culminating in discriptions of what happens to bad palagis, or those that get involved with the worst kind of women. Oh dear.
I can understand your sadness at his passing, but we do know that he held to his art to the end, and that despite the difficulties, he left this earth still embracing the art he most loved.
Yes, the poverty and the restlessness to keep to his work. What a pleasure for you to have known him so well and for having the kindness and patience to bring him supplies - his life blood indeed. John's story is more remarkable than I realised and to know that he was bound down to a chaotic personal life perhaps helps me understand his need to paint and re-create. His most insightful voice was within his work and at least upon the shores of Samoa, he was both a rich palangi and later a poor palangi - yet in his paintings, sketches and other mediums a pure artist.
Hello again and thanks for the blogs. This explains the Greek connection. I thought I was seeing things when an artist in Samoa was signing Greek themed paintings! I would gladly send pictures of the paintings to anyone interested. Just post your email here.
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
Pandos
Hi Pandos. Would be very grateful if you sent on pictures to mcdtrust@yahoo.co.nz.
ReplyDeleteI may put them on here with your permission.
I hope somebody may also have a photo of John which I could reproduce here.
Cheers
We met John in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) in 1978, bought some beautiful paintings by him and entertained him in our home on Devils Point Road a few times, so sorry to hear about his demise, such a nice guy. nickbutt@gmx.com
ReplyDeleteAnother example of how inseparable he was from his art. A night on Devils Point Road has evokes many thoughts. Classic recall Nick.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI decided to look up John Poynton as I knew him back in 1968 in Mykonos, Greece. Then I saw this blog. So sorry that he passed. I have three watercolors that I purchased from him...those being the first pieces of art I ever purchased. They cost me all of $1.00 each, which was about all I could afford on a student's budget.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story, thanks for sharing.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Hariata Tanetinorau-Rangi, and I am the oldest daughter of Tovio Poynton, John Poynton's son. Unfortunately my father had me out of wedlock, when working in New Zealand. So we rearly speak and I know nothing of my grandfather, except what is written on this article. I was hoping one of you would be able to shed light on what kind of person he was and if anyone knows of my uncle who still currently lives in Samoa. Thank you.
Hariatarangi@gmail.com
Hi Hariata. I hope reading the comments has given you a clearer picture of your grandfather. He was clearly a wandering artist as you will have noticed that seems to have left a big impression with many of those he met. I'm speculating of course but John appears to been totally consumed by his art, something quite hard for most of us to imagine. His are quite probably came first in his life and in some way dominated his character. As yo will have read many who met him speak about the enjoyable time they shared with him and his apparent larger than life character, for them unforgettable.
DeleteI have read a little about John's children in Samoa. It's easy to imagine they may have had difficulties in being the son of a rolling stone.
I've been part of a Samoan family for just over 30 years which has its own kind of vibrancy. It's clearly a life style that John enjoyed and it is one that belongs to you as his grandchild, and Tovio's daughter.
Things may not always fit in a particular way but can in another. You should be very proud of her you are, and like John was able to do, take your own steps. I feel that is something he would approve of strongly.
Best Regards
Brian
I was sitting looking at the pastel picture that hangs in my home office, purchased from John at Aggies in 2007. I had heard he had passed on but thought I would google to find out if that was the case. Came across this lovely tribute to him, was so interesting to read all of the stories about John and his life in Samoa and beyond. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSophie - Australia
My niece bought a house in Hamburg, Germany and found some water colors and drawings by John Poynton in the attic. They look like originals. There are 2 water colors with sail boats and two black and white drawings of girls. The are dated 1980. Not sure what to do with them. Is there a market for his artwork? Is there anywhere we could offer them? Thx, Karin
ReplyDeleteThere is interest in John's work. I know some collectors here in New Zealand who would be interested, let me know.
DeleteMy niece bought a house in Hamburg, Germany and found some water colors and drawings by John Poynton in the attic. They look like originals. There are 2 water colors with sail boats and two black and white drawings of girls. The are dated 1980. Not sure what to do with them. Is there a market for his artwork? Is there anywhere we could offer them? Thx, Karin
ReplyDeleteId be interested to see them Karin. You can contact me at: fanie.flocas@gmail.com
DeleteI have a pen and ink drawing of 3 Fales and an outrigger canoe bought from John outside a Cafe in Apia several years ago. It has pride of place on my wall, would love to track down more of his work. Any suggestions where I might find other works?
ReplyDeleteSometimes see them for sale on Trade Me in New Zealand.
Delete