Big Eye Emperor (Mu)

As human beings, what is our relationship with nature? What is our kuleana? What role do we play in our own ecosystems, and how do we interact with it? While creating my most recent body of work, questions such as these have filled my mind. I’ve always felt a curiosity towards the seemingly flawless organized chaos of ecosystems. It is fascinating that each life form, whether phytoplankton or Humpback Whale, support and maintain balance within their ecosystems by simply living their life guided by their innate instincts. Each creature has its own niche and role to play, which is vital to the whole.
I find it concerning how disconnected human beings have become from the environments we inhabit. Despite being a species of mammal on planet earth, we view nature as the “other,” “wild,” entity outside of our mundane realities. However, while spearfishing, once I dive below the ocean surface I am leaving my human identity above and entering into a foreign, beautiful and brutal world. I become another predator on the reef, and fall into motion alongside every animal that surrounds me, each hunting for the opportunity of a meal.
In my paintings, I explore and share my experiences beholding the beauty and brutality of the marine world. I tell stories of my bewitchment in the intricate creations of nature, while also questioning our human impacts and relationship with other animal lifeforms. I crave to share the knowledge that each dive gifts me, as well as inspire a closer look at the masterfully evolved, diverse species that inhabit our local reefs. With the changing climate being a topic at the forefront of global emergencies today, I feel there is a desperate need for a reconnection with our natural world. Sustainable practices such as spearfishing, has taught me the direct impact of my actions and the gravity in the sacred act of taking a life to continue living. Harvesting sustenance directly from the source has reestablished my understanding of the crucial connection linking animal life forms with our environments.
My recent body of works consists of 3x4ft - 4x5ft, photo-realistic self-portraits. The narratives I paint consists of questioning the human relationship with nature, the reality of invasive species in Hawaii as a result of human impact, and the brutal yet beautiful practice of harvesting sustenance directly while highlighting on a variety of exquisite species of local fish that are popularity harvested. This body of work is created to share information gathered from my experiences growing up freediving on Oahu’s reefs, while stimulating critical discussions inspired by an immersion into nature.