From sketches to carvings to paintings, Poerava Ah Sing’s artistic journey is one of self-discovery and endless transformation
For Poerava Ah Sing, what began as a little fascination with manga sketches transformed into an artistic vocation rooted in individuality, cultural heritage and perpetual change. She said her art started with mirroring online trends and inspirations, but after a long journey of experimentation and getting in touch with the world around her, she finally found a style that is both authentic and unmistakably her own. She said although her art is constantly growing, it will never cease to reflect her unique identity and the boundless passion driving it.
Ah Sing, a junior from Moorea, French Polynesia, majoring in visual arts with a concentration in painting and illustration, said her passion for art started with sketching that eventually expanded to carving and painting. While other artists express themselves through the metaphors of literature or rhythms of music, she said her self-expression makes use of visuals—be it on paper, wood or fabric. “I’m not really a music person; I’m also bad at writing. But I am pretty good with my hands, so I compensate with that,” she expressed.
Finding her own artistic voice
From the shores of Moorea to the diverse community of BYU–Hawaii, Ah Sing shared her art has undergone several stages of growth, making her style evolve into something more expressive and grounded. She said discovering a personal style was nothing short of challenging, especially when her earlier creations were driven by online trends. “I tend to copy whatever I see or whatever’s trending. It was hard for me to not be in that kind of bubble,” she expressed.
Acknowledging the risks of always imitating online content, she said, “By following whatever’s on the Internet, you are compromising your self-expression, because that’s not actually you and how you feel.” What shifted her approach, she shared, was attending the Center of Arts and Crafts in French Polynesia, where she learned carving.
Reminiscing on her time in arts school, she also shared the transformative guidance she received from a teacher who told her to just keep creating everyday. She said this practice of daily creation taught her not to dwell on her self-doubts and just get right into creating. “Following that advice helped me stop overthinking the process and relying on online inspiration,” she shared. Since then, she said her personal style has only grown stronger.
Since coming to the university, Ah Sing said her greatest source of inspiration is the vibrant diversity surrounding her wherever she goes. “Whenever I interact with people here, this thought always comes to mind: I can see myself drawing them in a way that is different from how they see themselves,” she expressed. She said simply strolling around the area, with the extraordinary view of the ocean, landscapes and people going on with their lives, has always been enough to drive her art.
The people around her, she added, can see the joy and fulfillment she radiates whenever she creates. Ashton Kaopua, a junior from Washington majoring in Hawaiian studies and biology, shared the experience of being Ah Sing’s muse. “She put so much care into every part of the painting. I felt honored and proud to be part of something she created,” he expressed. Her art, he said, is overflowing with joy and life, capturing not only a person’s appearance but also their personality.
The art of becoming
Having been an artist most of her life, Ah Sing said making art is her way of sharing a piece of herself with the world—every artwork is imbued with a significant part of her identity. She has already incorporated a variety of materials into her pieces—ink, charcoal, oil and acrylic paint—but the most critical ingredients, she said, are always going to be authenticity and a personal style rooted in her character.
“My style is definitely evolving over the years,” she shared. She said she strives to make her style flexible enough to be modified and fine-tuned for different contexts, but stable enough to consistently mirror her identity as the artist. “I don’t exactly change my style, because that is where my identity lies, but I do make improvements on it,” she said.
She said she started making art at the age of 9, when her half-Japanese, half-Tahitian friend’s talent in drawing Japanese comics sparked her interest in the field. This fascination, she shared, eventually grew into something greater when she started dabbling in drawing herself. “I have to thank her, because her influence was my gateway to becoming an artist,” she expressed.
At 18, encouraged by her mother’s cultural roots, Ah Sing said she decided to take up carving, ultimately learning to love the craft’s unexpected beauty. “I think I like creating things we never imagined could exist. Let’s say we started with just a shell, but you can actually change its shape or even the entire outer layer,” she expressed. Pearls and shells, she explained, are made up of multiple, multicolored layers, so she said she could never guess what color she will get before she starts carving into it. “It’s a surprise of nature, in a sense,” she shared.
Despite taking up painting and illustration for college, she said she did not want to leave her love for carving behind. “Carving is my second job here. I am one of the carvers at the Polynesian Cultural Center. It has become a hobby now,” she said.
She also shared how attending the Center of Arts and Crafts introduced her to the importance of authenticity and the beauty of cultural arts. She described it as a phase of reconnecting with her roots and remembering where she came from. That experience, she said, was where she conceived her personal style. “When people see my art, they know it’s mine. It’s very special to me that they can recognize my style,” she expressed.
Ever-evolving artistry
Moving forward, Ah Sing said she aims for a much more mature and confident artistic voice. As she continues to evolve as an artist, she said she will keep striving for the perfect balance between authenticity and unrestrained exploration, as well as between embracing the influence of others and staying true to herself. “I love trying new things. It helps me relax,” she expressed.
Having witnessed Ah Sing’ growth, Kaopua shared, “I’ve seen her grow more confident in her style. She’s always had talent, but now her pieces feel even more refined and expressive.” He said it is always a fun experience to watch her take on new challenges and upgrade her skills with each project. “Her work always feels thoughtful and creative, and there’s a real sense of joy in the way she paints,” he expressed.
Ah Sing said she has been recently experimenting with different styles, such as digital arts. “Honestly, it’s really easy and convenient with digital tools.You get all the brushes and colors without mixing them yourself,” she shared. However, she expressed her enduring loyalty and connection to traditional arts, saying, “I like the feeling of it—the texture and pressure. I’m more into that.”
There’s a real sense of joy in the way she paints.