Ho'oMaha

This exhibition delves into the theme of rest, exploring not only physical rest but also mental and emotional rest. As a mixed-race Native Hawaiian woman, my artistic practice dives into my identity's impact on my experiences with the world. I discuss coping with present challenges faced by Native Hawaiians during US occupation, managing life outside Hawai'i, navigating generational trauma and mental health, and exploring my femininity.

Drawing inspiration from Queen Liliʻuoklani, who coped with adversity by creating a quilt during her imprisonment, I incorporate elements of repetition, meditation, reflection, and journaling into my artwork to soothe my mind. Each piece in the exhibition serves as a window into my personal journey of understanding rest and its significance in my life.

A Slow Killing

Air dry clay, acrylic, clear rhinestones

6 x 50 in.

Puakenikeni is one of my favorite flowers from home because of its beautiful color, shape, and scent. This flower is used to create leis, which are given to family and friends on important occasions. As tourism is the driving force behind Hawaiʻi's economy, the lei has been commercialized, reducing it to a vacant symbol of appropriation. A Slow Killing depicts the outside world's impact on the lei and many other areas of Hawaiian life and culture.

I am the Myth I

Matte Medium Transfer on Canvas, molding acrylic, and glitter

32 x 22 in.

2024

These pieces are reflections on the work of Pegge Hopper– an artist from California who moved to Hawai’i to pursue her art. Hopper typically creates paintings of lounging Hawaiian women, which is not a reality that most Hawaiian women can afford. Hopper’s paintings have been widely known throughout tourism in Hawai’i and have generated large profits. Hopper has been quoted in Ka Leo, a publication by University of Hawai’i Mānoa stating “I am not painting Hawaiians, I am painting a myth, it has nothing to do with Hawaiians. I am merely using them as a beautiful thing just like an orchid.” Being that I am of Native Hawaiian descent, born and raised on Maui and that Hopper is not but still uses depictions of Hawaiian women as myths, I created these pieces to question what art is in society that depicts Hawaiians? Who is making this art? How are they contributing to the false or authentic perceptions of Hawai’i and its people?

Pegge Hopper And The ‘Myth’ Of Native Hawaiians: Famous for painting images of Hawaiian women reclining, the artist’s style and views raise questions about power and privilege., Natanya Friedheim, 2020, Manoanow.com

I am the Myth II

Containing Chaos

Quilt, embroidery

53.5 x 72 in.

2024

Keeping rest, repetition, and reflection in mind, I decided to make a quilt that could also be used as a diary. Throughout the making process, I worked on it only when I wanted to unwind and take time to let out all of the thoughts that were weighing on me that day. The quilt’s many entries, which feature embroidered text, are copied from different days in my journal that I logged throughout the creation process.

With Grandma’s Love

Quilt, paper

53.5 x 72 in.

2024

Quilting has had a significant impact on my life because Queen Liliʻuokalani, the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and sewing are such important parts of my family. Quilting is a craft that offers an invaluable combination of touch, time, care, and thought. While making this quilt, I reflected on these aspects of quilting and got inspiration from my grandma who created quilts for all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Each quilt was carefully made for that person. My grandma used the tie method to bind the quilt she made for me, which entails tying little pink bows in between each seam to keep the pieces together. With Grandma's Love, combines my idea of reflection and pays respect to the quilt my grandmother created for me, as well as the countless hours she has spent working for her family.

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