kuʻu ēwe, kuʻu piko

Abstract

kuʻu ēwe, kuʻu piko is a Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition that consists of seven prints, one artist book, and one drawing. Though it can be interpreted in various ways, “kuʻu ēwe, kuʻu piko” can be translated to mean “my umbilical, my navel” in the Hawaiian language. I use these words to refer to my connection to my Native Hawaiian ancestry and to emphasize that this connection is still intact despite years of disregarding it. This exhibition focuses on my Native Hawaiian identity and acknowledges the loss of some cultural knowledge within my family. Thus, this body of work showcases my ongoing journey to reacquaint myself with my multicultural background and utilizes aspects of the land, the various cultures, and the histories present within Hawai’i. In doing so, it will provide a stronger connection and understanding to my home and how my relationship to it will change.