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ART

Name: Samari Couri

Occupation: Artist

Residence: Hawai

Samara Couri, Pele and Kanaloa, ©Sumit Shukla

"Hawai’i is small in size but huge in its impact to the world. Yet they stay humble, they persevere, they know who they are."

What impresses you most about the history of Hawai’i and its people?

Hawai’i is small in size but huge in its impact to the world. Yet they stay humble, they persevere, they know who they are. Despite its sovereignty being taken away from them, they will always be Hawaiian, through and through. They have a very rich culture. Hula, for example, is immensely powerful; they are on a journey telling a story through hula. They show their respects to whom they are dancing for, according to each song or chant, and there is a meaning to each beat of the drum along with each move they make.

The Hawaiians were voyagers and very highly skilled navigators. They understood how to observe the stars, the sun, the wind, the ocean, the seabirds to navigate where they were going without any instruments. They gain so much wisdom through their understanding of nature and their creativity, understanding that everything around them is connected and to not take that for granted. Aloha is a big part of life to Hawaiians, to show kindness, humility, respect, but also not to mistake that for weakness. I feel blessed everyday being here, as I get to learn and participate in the culture, such as hula, learning the Hawaiian language, and so many things that really enrich one's life.

Does the special nature of Hawaii play a role in your work?

​​Absolutely, in every way. Since I am here on the island, it’s important for me to focus on the Hawaiian people as well as the different elements in nature that are personified as deities, such as Pele, Laka, Kanaloa and so forth. They are representations of the different roles they play in nature, the volcanoes with its lava, the forest, the ocean, and much more. So, I paint what I see and feel with the current state of the people's situation here, through my mark-making and expressions. And with the deities, to show the power and connection they have to the islands.

"As the mirrors are reflected off each other, so is the viewer. They are now within and a part of the piece, that world, where they have that personal space and meaning to it."

With your mirror works you want to explore the deep connection with other people. Could you explain this in more detail?

As the mirrors are reflected off each other, so is the viewer. They are now within and a part of the piece, that world, where they have that personal space and meaning to it. Sometimes we can look at the same object or walk down the same road for so long and not realize certain details that have always been there or perhaps changed in some way until we actually take a short time to look through it, look up, see a different view and suddenly a world has just opened up to us. Whether it is a tree you never noticed or a particular design on a building, we feel some kind of emotion. With the mirror paintings, there is that space for you to take the time to see the different perspectives, but on a more personal level within that subject and perhaps you have discovered something you had not quite realized was there.

What touches you in the feelings of the viewers of your paintings?

A lot of the time it does become quite personal to them, and that makes me happy, as I feel then that the art is now theirs to make their own. When they connect in some way, there is a journey that they take, the physical reflection of themselves manifests into a reflection of their mind and emotions. Of course, it could go either way, some people do not want to see that, however, it has already triggered some kind of response. So, I feel that the immersive part of the art has worked in whichever capacity it becomes.

How do you choose your models?

It is usually an instant response at a given time. If I see or talk to someone, I am already seeing that face and figure for the pieces I have in mind. It could be a facial expression that they give, their body language, it really does depend because it is very organic in that way. But, if it is a particular kind of person I wish to paint, then the same applies just with a few parameters. Otherwise, I really do go by feeling.

"Hawai’i is life. Really living life. Of course, it can be relative to each one, but to me, I am really living. "

What is it like to be an artist in Hawai’i? What is the art scene like there?

Hawai’i is life. Really living life. Of course, it can be relative to each one, but to me, I am really living. And that is very important as an artist, to be able to absorb the magnificent inspirations that you can find all around you and to always be discovering and experiencing something new, whether it is good or bad, that all helps to feed your art.

There are very rich, beautiful ancient Hawaiian arts preserved all around, as well as a good contemporary art scene, which I do hope continues to grow as I feel there is a lot more potential for local artists to be able to thrive with their work. I believe that Hawai’i can be a major arts hub if given the chance and not focus on just the commercial, tourist art that sometimes can be oversaturated. There are a lot of very talented people here that should be given a chance if there is more support for the arts in general.

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Samara Couri, Respecting the Elements, ©Sumit Shukla

Samara Couri. Photo_ Walu Productions LLC