Hawaiʻi Contemporary

Hawaiʻi Contemporary (formerly Honolulu Biennial Foundation) is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting contemporary art and ideas in Hawaiʻi.

History

Hawaiʻi Contemporary was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization in 2015 under the name Honolulu Biennial Foundation. It was founded by curators KJ Baysa and Isabella Ellaheh Hughes.[1] In 2020, the organization moved to a triennial format[2] and took its current name, Hawai‘i Contemporary.[3] With this change, they initiated education programs throughout the year.[4]

In Spring 2021, Hawaiʻi Contemporary was awarded an Andy Warhol Foundation Grant[5] to support the Hawaiʻi Triennial 2022. Hawaiʻi Contemporary was the only organization in Hawaiʻi to be awarded in that year for the prestigious grant.

Location

Hawaiʻi Contemporary is based in Honolulu, Hawa'i, and it frequently partners with local arts organizations to present contemporary art within a local cultural context. Recurring presenting partner institutions include: ʻIolani Palace, Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art,[6] Bishop Museum, ʻAliʻiolani Hale,[7] Foster Botanical Gardens,[8] and Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.

Events

Honolulu Biennial 2017

The 2017 Biennial, titled Middle of Now | Here, was curated by Fumio Nanjo and Ngahiraka Mason[9] and took place from March 8–May 8 of that year.[10] Each of the previous biennial events welcomed over 100,000 guests from Hawai‘i, the Pacific region, and around the world. Artists included:[11] Vernon Ah Kee, Sama Alshaibi,[12] Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Andrew Binkley, Drew Broderick, Jane Chang Mi, Kaili Chun, Sean Connelly,[10] Beatrice Glow, Brett Graham, Marques Hanalei Marzan, Choi Jeong Hwa, Kathy Jetnil Kijiner, Mohammad Kazem,[13] Yuki Kihara, Charlton Kūpa’a Hee, Yayoi Kusama, Al Lagunero, Alexander Lee, Les Filter Feeders, Mariquita Micki Davis, Lee Mingwei, Eko Nugroho, Fiona Pardington, Lisa Reihana, Chris Ritson, Michelle L. Schwengel-Regala, Greg Semu, teamLab, John Vea, Zhan Wang, Lynne Yamamoto, and Ken & Julia Yonetani.

Honolulu Biennial 2019

The title of the 2019 Biennial, To Make Wrong / Right / Now, was taken from the poem Manifesto by participating Kanaka Maoli artist 'Imaikalani Kalahele.[14] The 2019 Honolulu Biennial featured 47 artists based in and around the Pacific, and was curated by Nina Tonga, Josh Tengan (assistant curator), and Devon Bella (curatorial consultant).[15] The Biennial focused on indigenous artists and local issues.[16] Artists included: Pio Abad and Frances Wadsworth Jones, Bernice Akamine,[17] DB Amorin, Brook Andrew, Ei Arakawa, James Bamba, Raymond Boisjoly, Bradley Capello, Central Pacific Time, Abraham Cruzvillegas, DAKOgamay, Demian DinéYazhi´, Solomon Enos, Nicholas Galanin, Andy Graydon, Taloi Havini, Hoʻoulu ʻĀina Artist Collective, ʻImaikalani Kalāhele, Florence Jaukae Kamel,[17] Misaki Kawai, Lee Kit, Mat Kubo, Kapulani Landgraf,[10] Chenta Laury, Ara Laylo, Jeremy Leatinu’u, Mario Lemafa, Ellen Lesperance, Janet Lilo, Mata Aho Collective, Leland Miyano, Marianne Nicolson, Paul Pfeiffer, Postcommodity, Rosanna Raymond,[17] SaVAge K'lub, Natalie Robertson, Chiharu Shiota, Bruna Stude, Taupōuri Tangarō, Cory Taum, Maika’i Tubbs,[10] Kalisolaite ‘Uhila, Marie Watt, Guan Xiao, Amy Yao, and Young-Had Chang Heavy Industries.

Virtual Art Summit 2021

In February 2021, Hawaiʻi Contemporary hosted their first digital Art Summit, Pacific Century — E Ho‘omau no Moananuiākea.[18] The Art Summit explored the same theme as the 2022 Triennial, and also highlighted some of the featured artists.[19] Notable international speakers include Ai Weiwei, Theaster Gates, and Homi K. Bhabha.[20]

Hawaiʻi Triennial 2022

February 18–May 8, 2022 Hawaiʻi Contemporary will host the next Triennial, titled Pacific Century — E Hoʻomau no Moananuiākea.[21] The Triennial is curated by Dr. Melissa Chiu, Dr. Miwako Tezuka, and Drew Kahuʻāina Broderick.[22] Featured artists include Ai Weiwei[23] (whose mask collection,[24] The Way Follows Nature, was made specifically to benefit Hawai’i Triennial 2022),[25] Theaster Gates, Sun Xun, and Liu Xiaodong, as well as Hawaiʻi-based artists Herman Piʻikea Clark[26] and Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio.[27] "The show will focus on climate change, history, social activism, and indigenous knowledge about Hawaii in the context of Asia and Oceania."[28]

References

  1. ^ "The Honolulu Biennial marks Hawaii's first entry into the global biennial circuit, focusing on art from Oceania, the Asian continent, and the Americas". Biennial Foundation. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. ^ Ludel, Wallace (January 16, 2020). "Honolulu Biennial Switches to Triennial Format".
  3. ^ "Honolulu Biennial to become a Triennial". Biennial Foundation. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  4. ^ "Katherine Don". Hawaii Business Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. ^ "Warhol Foundation Announces Spring 2021 Grantees". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
  6. ^ "Honolulu Biennial 2019: Kapulani Landgraf on ʻAu'a | Honolulu Museum of Art Blog". Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ^ Tanigawa, Noe. "Date Night? Have An Art Experience". www.hawaiipublicradio.org. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ^ "Your Ultimate Guide to the 2019 Honolulu Biennial's Immersive Art Event". Honolulu Magazine. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  9. ^ "Artforum.com". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  10. ^ a b c d Cruz, Paula De La (2017-01-26). "In Hawaii, Contemporary Art Gets Its Moment in the Sun (Published 2017)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. ^ "Art Lovers: You Won't Want to Miss These Awesome Honolulu Biennial Events". Honolulu Magazine. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  12. ^ "Sama Alshaibi in the 2017 Honolulu Biennial - News - Ayyam Gallery". www.ayyamgallery.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  13. ^ "8 highlights from the inaugural Honolulu Biennial 2017 – ArtRadarJournal.com". Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  14. ^ Soulé, Barbara (2019-03-04). "2019 Honolulu Biennial Events". Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  15. ^ Armstrong, Annie (2018-11-02). "Here's the List of Artists for the 2019 Honolulu Biennial". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  16. ^ "Honolulu Biennial focuses on indigenous artists and local issues". www.theartnewspaper.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  17. ^ a b c Sauers, Jenna (2019-07-11). "Indigenous Female Artists Take Center Stage in Hawaii". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  18. ^ BWW News Desk. "Hawaiʻi Contemporary Announces Art Summit 2021". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  19. ^ "ArtAsiaPacific: Recap Hawai I Contemporary Art Summit2021". artasiapacific.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  20. ^ Tanigawa, Noe. "Keynote Ai Weiwei Opens Hawaiʻi Art Summit". www.hawaiipublicradio.org. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  21. ^ "Hawai'i Contemporary Announces Artists, Venues for 2022 Triennial". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  22. ^ Tengan, Josh (October 2021). "State of the Art". Palm Magazine. 14: 22–28.
  23. ^ Mark, Steven (2021-10-18). "Hawaii arts festival announces artist lineup". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  24. ^ "Gift Guide". www.conservation.org. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  25. ^ Cruz, Riza (2021-11-02). "Ai Weiwei on Andy Warhol, Stephen Hawking, and the Book That Proved Him Wrong". ELLE. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  26. ^ Villa, Tessa Solomon,Angelica; Solomon, Tessa; Villa, Angelica (2021-10-18). "ARTnews in Brief: Modern Art Now Represents René Daniëls—and More from October 22, 2021". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "Melissa Chiu Highlights Local Artists in the Hawai'i Triennial 2022". ocula.com. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  28. ^ "Art Industry News: NFT Sales Have Reached a Whopping $3.5 Billion So Far This Year, Per a New Report + Other Stories". Artnet News. 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-11-05.