Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it, is your gift to God. This was the message 34-year-old, Mere Rasue holds close to her heart.
Mere hails from Ra with maternal ties to Somosomo Village, Gau. Her journey was one of challenges, growth, and artistic discovery.
Raised in Lautoka, Mere’s childhood was shaped by her parents, both government workers — her father worked at the magistrate court and her mother, a school teacher.
“I attended Jasper Williams High School but I didn’t get to attend tertiary because I chose to marry,” Mere said.
“I was very young. I started a family back in Ba and we had three children.”
Life was difficult, which led Mere to question her future.
It was her older brother, a lawyer, who encouraged her to think beyond her circumstances and pursue something for herself.
“One day my brother told me to check an advertisement in The Fiji Times. It was the University of the South Pacific calling out for visual arts.
“At the time I didn’t know what visual art was. But none the less, I did a few sketches and I applied.
“After two weeks I got a call from the coordinator.”
Mere’s life took a turn when she was selected for the program, she was one of three chosen out of 30 applicants.
Mere was introduced to a world of art she had never known — acrylic paints, canvas, and diverse media.
Coming from a background where she only knew pencil and ink, the experience was overwhelming yet inspiring.
She attended workshops and exhibitions that broadened her exposure and fueled her passion.
Then one day, during an art exhibition at the Fiji Museum, Mere met Anare Somumu, a well-known artist and illustrator of children’s books.
“I remembered the name from a book back in my school days. He approached me to introduced himself.
“From that day he was the one that helped me gain more exposure, he introduced me to other art groups.”
Mere’s art journey accelerated. She registered with the Fiji Arts Council and became more involved in the local art scene, showcasing her work alongside artists such as Irami, Buli, and Joshua Toganivalu.
Mere found solace in her God-given talent for art. She realised that her hands held the power to create and express, and she embraced it fully.
Today, her art is inspired by her surroundings, her heritage, and a deep connection to the vanua.
Mere aims to use her art to teach younger generations about what has been lost and to preserve their cultural heritage.
“Don’t give up on your education.”
She regrets not fully embracing her education in high school and strives to balance her daughters’ academic achievements with their artistic talents.
Her oldest daughter, an aspiring artist, is already following in her footsteps.
Looking to the future, Mere hopes to continue her learning journey in the arts and ultimately become an illustrator for children’s books.
