Underwater Playground

kapa (Hawaiian barkcloth)
wauke (paper mulberry tree), indigo dyed wauke, natural dyes (maohauhele, òlena, persimmon, spirulina, jaboticaba, milo nut), natural earth pigment (àlaea from Kauai), gold pigment ink, laundry bluing liquid, indigo dyed sashiko thread, maedeup (traditional Korean ornamental knot)

25 x 26 inches (unframed)
2022

This kapa, inspired by the ocean and its environs that I play in when snorkeling, is an expression of the joy and wonder that I experience when I encounter the beautiful and colorful lifeforms and seascape. I am concerned about the impact of climate change and wonder if this underwater playground will exist for future generations. The lotus blossom is a symbol of resilience for me and I adorned the kapa with the lotus bud maedeup, a traditional Korean ornamental knot, to express my hope for our ocean world.

This work was on display at Splash!, Donkey Mill Art Center’s 16th annual art auction along with over 90 artworks by emerging and established artists from Hawaiʻi and beyond. The auction took place from February 4 - March 4, 2023.

For detailed information, please visit the auction website.

Splash! celebrates the impact of the arts beyond the Mill and the resounding influence of the arts to inspire and strengthen individual and collective well-being. The Mill has been making a “splash” for over twenty-five years, activating waves which continue to build and resonate into the community and world, far beyond the boundaries of the Mill’s campus.