Kahilu Theatre Presents Talk by Artist Kaori Ukaji

Kahilu Theatre will present an talk by internationally recognized Artist Kaori Ukaji on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Kaori Ukaji, artist. PC: courtesy Nella Media Group.

This talk is being held in conjunction with her solo exhibition, Serenely Proliferating, currently on view through Dec. 20 in both Kahilu galleries.

Ukaji will present slides that showcase the scope of her art practice, as well as discuss her installation.

Additionally, a selection of Ukaji’s limited-edition prints and drawings not included in the current exhibition will be for sale only on the day of the talk.

A portion of the sale proceeds will help support Kahilu Theatre.

Ukaji has been recognized widely throughout the state, and her recent awards from the Honolulu Museum of Art (HMA) includes The Roselle Davenport Award for Artistic Excellence, The Reuben Tam Award and The Jim Winters Award for 3D Design.

She was also a featured artist in the Fifth Contemporary Museum Biennial of Hawai‘i artists on Oʻahu, and has had solo exhibitions in Hawai‘i, New York, Australia and Japan.

Last year, Ukaji was selected as one of four artists for the 2017 Artists of Hawai‘i exhibition at HMA on O‘ahu. It was for this exhibition that Kaori created Serenely Proliferating.

Healoha Johnson, HMA curator, describes the artist and her work: “Kaori Ukaji is a mixed-media artist whose installation, Serenely Proliferating, includes clippings of her own skin dyed with red pigment, laboriously looped yarn on several canvases and cell shaped rolls of tissue paper. Rather than depict an image of the human figure, the artist conceives of the installation through obsessive mark making, and in both method and materials, draws attention to the human body as she turns the gallery into an organ with elements that reference cells, veins and flesh.

Ukajiʻs recent reckoning with her own health prompted Serenely Proliferating, as she grappled with the body’s ability to heal itself through cellular production.

As Scott Wheldan said in his blog for the museum, “Kaori Ukajiʻs Serenely Proliferating is the kind of installation that grows on you.”

“We are very pleased to bring artist Kaori Ukaji to present her striking visual meditation on life and mortality in the galleries at Kahilu,” said Kahilu Board Member and Exhibitions Committee Chair Sherm Warner. “Serenely Proliferating exemplifies the profoundly moving artwork that we showcase at Kahilu Theatre, both onstage and in our galleries. At her opening reception on Oct. 26, Kaori spoke thoughtfully about her process and what influences her. Kahilu Theatre is pleased to offer an additional opportunity to learn about the scope of her practice through this Artist Talk on Saturday, Nov. 25.”

Kahilu Exhibits, located in the galleries of the Kahilu Theatre, presents solo and thematic group shows and features local and global works of art from both emerging and established visual artists. The galleries are free and open to the public Monday thru Friday, from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m., and during all performances and events. For more information, go online, email gallery@kahilutheatre.org or call (808) 885-6868.