In Living Color

May 20- May 29 2023
Hawaii Contemporary’s artXchange at the Royal Hawaiian Center

In Living Color was an exhibition space that' is part of the Hawaii Contemporary’s artXchange Public Viewing in Waikiki. This space featured works that convey the fragility of coral’s ecosystem with the effects of climate change and other anthropogenic effects. Featured were my lenticular origamis and my innovative mist media works.

Above are two of the works that were up for auction, Do or Die and Coral Composition 01. Do or Die is a lenticular origami piece which can be viewed at two different angles. One angle shows a dead coral whereas the other angle shows an illustrated and colorful coral. This piece conveys the impacts of climate change, focusing mainly on coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when coral expel the colorful algae that live within their tissues, causing them to turn white or pale. This happens when water temperatures rise above normal range or when there are changes in ocean chemistry. Coral bleaching is a serious problem because it can lead to the death of entire coral colonies. As humans are the main perpetrators for climate change, it is our responsibility to fight climate change so that coral reefs can thrive. Coral reefs are vital for human well-being, providing important ecosystem services that are essential for our survival. It is crucial that we protect these fragile ecosystems for future generations by taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve marine biodiversity. The vibrant illustrations capture the revival and resilience of coral reefs, inspiring hope that humans can restore these vital ecosystems to their thriving state.

My second piece of work that was up for auction, Coral Composition 01 is a framed print. Coral Composition 01 features printed mist imagery created by photographing fleeting images of projections on mist. This conveys the ephemeral nature of the coral reef ecosystem through the ephemeral physicality of the mist. The artwork aims to draw attention to the critical state of the coral reefs, which are increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change.

The Hawai’i Contemporary artXchange fundraiser features an online Art Auction, presenting a selection of works by notable visual artists from Hawai’i, the Pacific, and beyond, who support Hawai’i Contemporary and its mission. Taiji Terasaki displayed various works of lenticular origami sculptures, as well as his signature live mist installation conveying the regeneration of coral.