Artist Statement – Kerry Candarakis
Aloha
The literal translation of the phrase is [Alo] meaning 'presence' and [Hā] meaning 'breath. ' Together the word Aloha translates to 'The presence of breath' or 'breath of life’. I’ve endeavour to imbed the spirit of ‘Aloha’ in this work.
My early Hawaiian memories came from Elvis movies, vintage postcards, 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Hawaii-Five-O, Pearl Harbour and the World Surf league. My expectations were high.
The scent of Frangipani (or Plumeria) and the warmth assailed me on arrival. The palm trees swayed in the breeze even amongst the city buildings. The volcanic mountains dominated even the city skyline, the aqua waters were pristine and gorgeous foliage was abundant everywhere. I was completely captivated with everything Hawaiian.
This body of work endeavours to take you on a journey to Hawaii. The vibrancy of colour used tries to mimic Hawaii’s natural beauty. I have worked on Linen, timber cradles, cardboard, skateboard decks and a surfboard with Acrylic and Ink. There are both elements of painting and drawing as part of my theme. This work aims to celebrate the Hawaiian surf culture. Whilst creating this body of work I continually found a smile on my face when planning, painting, and curating.
Aloha is also the word used for both 'hello' and 'goodbye' in Hawaiian, but it is more than a simple salutation —Living ‘Aloha’ is a way of life, I aim to embrace the Aloha spirit.
Mahalo, Kerry