Local Color
Sunday, September 23, 2001
A special prescription:
Art with attitudeThis unusual mix of art could be
just what the doctor ordered
MAKAU THE FISHHOOK is the stage name of Maka the Hunter, the 2-year-old brown poi dog who likes to chase sand crabs along Wailupe reef. His sister, Pua the Attention Hog, goes by Pua'a the Pig. They are the stars in artist Eric Chun's videos.In "Dog Years," a 14-minute video, the canine siblings have no trouble staying in character. They are their carefree selves, frolicking on the beach, until evil brings the fun to a screeching halt.
Actually, that's when the fun really begins; this is when the humans get in the picture.
Cristina Rodriguez is the evil Octopus Man, a k a Fix-arm Squid Man, who has shiny tentacles and a dinosaur tail. She has three masked gofers, the Get'em Guys.
>> Place: Academy Art Center at Linekona, 1111 Victoria St. 'TIMES 2'
>> Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, through Sept. 30
>> Admission: Free
>> Call: 532-8741
Eric Chun, who owns the dogs, plays a poor man's version of the Japanese superhero Kikaida. His headgear, which distinguishes him as a superhero, is made from cardboard and a surfing helmet.
"It's a basic Kikaida story. The Get'em Guys apprehend the innocent dogs and bring them to the monster, who laughs menacingly. Suddenly, Kikaida appears from the bushes, and a battle ensues with the octopus monster," says Chun, the director and co-writer of the video.
In the end, good triumphs and the dogs are saved. It's a simple story told simply with good humor and lots of energy. The dogs, however, never looked frightened for a second during the kidnapping. They seemed to quite enjoy being held as the evil trio carried them around the beach.If you missed the video when it was shown at a July art exhibit, you have a second chance to see it. The video, as well as a good portion of the July art exhibit, are being shown at the Academy Art Center at Linekona through the end of the month.
The July exhibit, which used time as a theme, caught the eye of Linekona curator Carol Khewhok, who thought the artworks were innovative and lighthearted, and invited the group to show at her gallery.
"I was really impressed with what the artists did. They are a younger group and their work reflects that sensibility. They are not doing the kind of artworks you usually see," Khewhok said.The group, calling itself Special Prescription, is an informal association of about a dozen artists. This exhibit showcases 13 artists, one of whom has moved to the mainland. They are in their 20s and 30s and came together to help each other do good work.
Gelareh Khoie, who helped found the group, said she wanted to see an artist community in Hawaii and began calling her artist friends together about two years ago. The artists picked a name for themselves by throwing words into a hat and then picking out two randomly.
"We could have ended up with any two words, but I think Special Prescription is actually appropriate for what we are trying to do. We are offering a special prescription of art in Hawaii," Khoie said.
The membership has changed over time, but the group always tries to mount an art exhibit every two or three months. Because gallery spaces are difficult to come by, the artists often show their work -- which include performance pieces at times -- at raves, street festivals and other alternative spaces.Their July exhibit was held in an empty office space in the Queen Emma Building. (See the July 8 "Local Color" article about that exhibit, available through www.starbulletin.com). It was not an ideal space for an art exhibit, but the artists were grateful for any space they could get.
The exhibit at Linekona is the first time the entire group has been shown in a traditional gallery setting -- with proper lighting and ample room. This opportunity allowed the artists to expand their ideas, rework some thoughts and collaborate on large pieces.
The result is a wonderful mixed bag of artworks with attitude that includes paintings, photographs, drawings, prints, sculptures, videos and installations. Many pieces are from the previous exhibit, but there's enough new work to make a visit worthwhile.
Gardening Calendar
Suzanne Tswei's art column runs Sundays in Today.
You can write her at the Star-Bulletin,
500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI, 96813
or email stswei@starbulletin.com
