Native American Artist Fellows / 2019 / Ian Kuali’i

Ian Kuali’i

2019 Ronald and Susan Dubin Fellowship

Ian Kuali’i. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Ian Kuali’i. “O Ka Mea Ho’ōkahi Iwi (Portrait of Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu)”, 2018. Hand-cut paper, 6′ x 4′ . Photo courtesy of the artist.

The School for Advanced Research is pleased to welcome Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and Apache mixed-media artist, Ian Kuali’i as the 2019 Ronald and Susan Dubin Native Artist Fellow. A mid-career self-taught artist, Kuali’i spent a decade in New York working within the contemporary urban art community, and is well-known for his hand-cut paper works. He explains that his “hand-cut method is a meditative process of ‘destroying to create,’ while exploring ideas of indigeneity, modern progress, biodiversity and the foundation of one’s own history.”

More recently, he has been transforming his art practice to speak to both environmental and human conditions through interactive public art. Kuali’i utilizes both natural and artificial features of the landscape to develop ephemeral and site-specific installations, which he refers to as Earth Works/Land Art, and sees as a hybrid between traditional and contemporary art. Kuali’i comments, “My art practice has evolved into a reflection of my personal journey, a dichotomy between urban grit and ancestral spirit, chaotic energy and refined control, ultimately unifying the delicate and rough in symbiotic representation.”

While in residence, he will draw from site-specific stories and history to create a large Earth Work/Land Art piece, which will be built or sculpted directly into the landscape. Additionally, he plans to develop a body of hand-cut paper pieces that carry the same theme. To Kuali’i, this work is an act of “reclaiming space and honoring the sacredness of the land that is unbound by the conventions of a gallery and museum walls.” Kuali’i will be in residence from June 14—August 15, 2019.

ARTIST TALK

Ian Kuali’i: Artist Talk, Reception & Open Studio

August 8, 2019 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Eric S. Dobkin Boardroom, SAR campus, 660 Garcia Street, Santa Fe, NM
505-954-7205

Multimedia artist Ian Kuali’i has been transforming his art practice to speak to both environmental and human conditions through interactive public art. Kuali’i utilizes both natural and artificial features of the landscape to develop ephemeral and site-specific installations, which he refers to as Earth Works/Land Art, and sees as a hybrid between traditional and contemporary art. While at SAR, Kuali’i has been drawing from site-specific stories and history to create a large Earth Work/Land Art piece, and developing a body of hand-cut paper pieces that carry the same theme. Join the School for Advanced Research for Kuali’i’s presentation as he shares about his time at SAR; following the lecture and reception Kuali’i will open his studio to visitors.

View a recording of Kuali’i’s presentation here.

Ian Kuali’i. “Earthworks Research and Development Study,” 2018. Riverbed rocks and organic material. Roughly 30′ x 65′. Photo courtesy of the artist.