HONOLULU.- This spring, the John Dominis and Patches Damon Holt Gallery of the Arts of Hawai‘i at the Honolulu Museum of Art will undergo a major reinstallation that reflects the varied landscapes of Hawai‘i and its people. HoMA has invited Rory Padeken, Denver Art Museum’s Vicki and Kent Logan curator of modern and contemporary art, to be the guest curator in collaboration with Tory Laitila, HoMA’s curator of textiles and historic arts of Hawai‘i.

Celebrating the dynamic visual culture of Hawaiʻi, the installation will open in spring 2023 and feature works from HoMA’s permanent collection and loans across a variety of media and expressions. The thematic installation will reflect the ever-changing geological, political, cultural and social landscapes of Hawai‘i, amplifying some of the diverse stories and cultural identities of individuals who call the Islands home.

“This reinstallation of Arts of Hawai‘i at HoMA will show the broadness of the ethnicities of the people and the artists represented, including native Hawaiian artists and those who worked, lived or were born in Hawaiʻi,” said Laitila.

Catherine Whitney, HoMA’s director of curatorial affairs, says the aim of the reinstallation is to spark conversation rather than to authoritatively define past histories, so it was important for the curatorial team to approach the project with a collaborative spirt.

“The Arts of Hawai‘i celebrates a range of interpretations and experiences of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and Hawai‘i-based artists,” said Whitney. “I look forward to seeing the results of Rory and Tory’s thoughtful collaboration showcasing important art ranging from traditional Hawaiian art forms to 21st-century contemporary works.”

Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Padeken graduated from Punahou School and received a bachelor’s degree in history of art from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in visual and critical studies from California College of the Arts, San Francisco. Prior to his current position at the Denver Art Museum, Padeken held curatorial roles at the San José Museum of Art (SJMA) from 2011 to 2022. He also served as the Achenbach Graphic Arts Council Fellow at the Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Padeken has a strong track record of expanding the narratives of contemporary art by advocating for artists and examining present-day social issues through an inclusive lens. Notable recent exhibitions and projects include an exploration of Vietnamese and Vietnamese American stories of war and migration through Dinh Q. Lê’s video installations; a workshop on racial justice with artist Glenn Kaino; the critically-acclaimed exhibition Border Cantos: Richard Misrach | Guillermo Galindo, which addressed the humanitarian crisis at the Mexico-U.S. border; mounting the first major U.S. solo exhibition of video animations and drawings by Tabaimo from Japan; and organizing the first solo museum exhibition and catalog on the work of Jean Conner.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to return home to collaborate on this project with HoMA. There is a wealth of artistic talent in Hawai‘i,” said Padeken. “I look forward to connecting those artists’ stories with the community, on both a local and national level, to shine a light on the diverse perspectives that shape this archipelago of islands in the middle of the Pacific.”