Mele o Nā Kaukani Wai (Song of a Thousand Waters)
2018
Medium
mulberry papers, plant dyes, mineral pigments, gouache, clay (beads), cotton thread, metallic thread
Measurements
212.5 × 346.0 × 28.0 cm (variable) (installed)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2022
© Lehuauakea
Gallery location
The Ancient World
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Mele o Nā Kaukani Wai is a mixed-media installation that explores the importance of integrating traditional Indigenous ecological knowledge together with Western science to address global environmental crises. Lehuauakea employs traditional ʻohe kāpala (carved bamboo printing tools) to create patterns rich in intergenerational symbolism. These patterns use the mixing of freshwater and saltwater – where the river meets the sea – as a metaphor for this complex issue. Through this imagery, the work envisions a more ecologically equitable future through a contemporary Native Hawaiian lens.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Portland, Oregon, United States
Accession Number
2022.826
Department
International Sculpture