Before heading to Port Villa we had found out there was the garden of two well known artists of the Pacific open to the public. Michoutouchkine & Pilioko Foundation Art Gallery. We had some idea it was going to be a collection of art that they had collected over their some 25 years of living in Vanuatu but little did we know. 
On the day of our visit Pilioko was in residence and he was very happy to show us around and tell us alot about his life. He has completely decorated every spare wall, bench surface, concrete space and veranda. He has even made a small shrine to his long lost cat. It was so colourful and beautiful and inspiring. 
His actual working area is open and looks out onto one of the lagoons. Talk about daily inspiration. This man does these huge beautiful longstitch embroideries and thats what I was hoping he had in his artwork for sale. He did but it was way out of my price range to buy so we settled on two smaller paintings. One the kids chose and one I got to choose. Currently at the framers so I will put pictures up when they are back.
If anybody is heading of to Port Vila I would highly rcommend a trip to their place. I think the artist/collector/ crafter would be greatly pleased by it. It's not on the usual tourists trail so it is a quiet and pleasing place to visit. I really only discovered these guys when they had a exhibition here earlier on in the year and we are so glad we took the time to go and have a look.
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