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Solomon Enos

We Are There to Be the Art

part of a series on Journey

26:37

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Native Hawaiian artist Solomon Enos traces a 24-year creative journey — from remote Pacific atolls to the Hawaii State Capitol — and makes the case that art is most powerful when the community holds the brush.

In this talk, artist-in-residence at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum Solomon Enos shares the story behind the largest art installation in Hawaiʻi’s contemporary history — the Capitol Pools Commission. From sailing to uninhabited Pacific atolls to visiting Bikini Atoll and creating a graphic novel across Tahiti, Samoa, and Edinburgh, Solomon traces a creative journey rooted in one belief: that the most powerful art is made with community, not for it. Featuring reflections on legacy, collective mark-making, and the Hawaiian concept of Makai Nanna, he closes with a timeless reminder — Kūʻē me ke Aloha. Resist with love.

About the speaker

Solomon Robert Nui Enos is a Native Hawaiian artist, illustrator, and visionary, bringing forth a rich tapestry of artistry rooted in Makaha Valley on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i. With over three decades devoted to artistic creation, he traverses a diverse spectrum of mediums, encompassing oil paintings, illustrations, murals, and game design.

Enos's artistic expression resonates with an enlightened vision, interweaving contemporary and traditional art to unite the narratives of ancestral past with present and future stories. A self-described "possiblist", his work delves into themes of collective consciousness, ancestry, identity, and humanity's relationship with the planet, all viewed through the prism of his indigenous perspective from Hawai'i.

His artistic journey has graced significant exhibitions, including Biennial X at the Honolulu Museum of Art, the 19th Honolulu Biennial, and the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at the Queensland Art Gallery. Enos's creations have found their place in esteemed collections, including the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Hawai'i State Art Museum. Beyond galleries, he has been instrumental in leading community mural projects and receiving art commissions for hotels, corporate offices, public buildings, and schools across Hawai'i.

Among his recent endeavors stand murals and augmented-reality installations for notable entities like Google and Disney, marking an innovative exploration of artistry within evolving technological landscapes. His latest exhibition, Papahanaumoku: A Panoply of New Island Cultures, explores the conceptual continuation of island peopling through the lens of climate change.

Through his art, Enos aspires to transcend boundaries, weaving together the intricate threads of heritage and modernity, inviting viewers into a narrative that echoes the essence of Hawai'i's indigenous wisdom while embracing the evolving stories of today and tomorrow.

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