Communicating ideas

Art is the path to self-discovery, almost philosophy for Alan Konishi

» Artist Jennifer Callejo finds inspiration in her friends

On view "All Tomorrow's Parties," by Alan Konishi, and "Lightning Bolt Grounded (Now You're Electrifying)," by Jennifer Callejo » On exhibit: Through Jan. 18 » Place: Hawaii Pacific University Art Gallery, Hawaii Loa campus, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway » Gallery hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays » Call: 544-0287

For Alan Konishi, art is a higher calling, "almost like a philosophy." It's about communicating ideas, he says, "which is important to move society along."

The 24-year-old artist certainly has been doing his part on that front. In the past year he's created three series of works exploring identity for "All Tomorrow's Parties," on exhibit at Hawaii Pacific University Art Gallery.

Two have a chronology to them. The first, which Konishi calls "The Bed Paintings," depicts various bedrooms that represent "all the women I've had crushes on since high school."

Mind you, Konishi hasn't had real access. Rather, the beds are portraits of the women based on what he knows of them.

"It's all about unfulfilled relationships that never went anywhere. The beds are a subversive way of expressing desire for intimacy," he says.

The succeeding series, "Our Space," is built on the concept of virtual identity: the ability to design a profile. This time, his subjects are women he actually did have relationships with.

Konishi created images from MySpace panels with, ironically, the faces of the women removed. "The pieces are not about the people, but the circumstances around them," he explains.

Konishi's reflective approach to the world has its origins on an orchid farm in Waianae, where the artist grew up.

"Because of my background, I'm used to doing things with my hands," he says. "As a kid, I liked to draw, though that didn't last past 12 years old. But there was a natural progression to (becoming an artist)."

Today, Konishi's feet are firmly planted in the art world. There's his day job of running the ceramics program at the Academy Art Center -- and the belief that art inspires introspection.

"For myself, art is the path to self-discovery. And it seems like wishful thinking, but ... if one person sees my work and it helps them figure out life, it's worth it."

The third facet of Konishi's show surely provides food for thought. It features the unlikely images of fellow artists wearing sparkly dental jewelry. Referencing the rapper trend, Konishi says his intent is to challenge the materialism of pop culture.

"I wanted to elevate the artists to the same (status) as rappers -- more jewelry on their teeth says more money. But the irony of it is that something's not right.

"I'm asking, Why do we reinforce these trends?"

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BACK TO TOP

Shy artist unveils solid collection

Jennifer Callejo considers her prints to be portraits that "focus on the personality of people"

The characterization of the artist as singularly consumed by art and driven by vision falls apart when considering Jennifer Callejo. One senses instead that there's almost a reluctance to create, almost a shyness about putting her work on display. Yet for all that, Callejo delivers a solid collection of prints and drawings for "Lightning Bolt Grounded (Now You're Electrifying)" at Hawaii Pacific University Art Gallery in Kaneohe.

"It's hard for me to continuously do art," says Callejo. "I have friends who have the need to create, and that makes me a bit envious. I need an assignment or deadline to spur me on."

Callejo, who has a day job in databasing, was still able to make all the pieces for the show within two months, after five years of rarely doing art at all. It was a daunting challenge but one that boosted her confidence and reconnected her with the joys of creating art.

"It was rewarding to see I can actually still do it," she says. "In printmaking there's lots of steps, and the process is almost Zen in its repetitiveness. It's not for everyone but I love the process."

"LIGHTNING BOLT GROUNDED" includes prints of Callejo's friends, whom she keeps in touch with online, and drawings of animals.

The prints are portraits that "focus on the personality of the people," she says. "People move away, and it's easier to keep in touch over the Internet. There are a couple of people I never even actually met, but they're an important part of my life."

The animal works, which include word balloons of dogs and birds saying seemingly indecipherable things, are associated with people depicted in the prints. "They're saying stupid little Internet chat things," Callejo says with a laugh. "I didn't want to be too serious. It's an inside joke with some of those people."

Still, the artist believes her work can transcend its personal nature and connect with the audience.

"I intentionally didn't include an artist's statement," she says. "I want people to come up with their own statement."