My work uses narrative scenery and imagined environments to explore my inner psyche while responding to the social and political uncertainty that surrounds me. Through imagery that can shift between playful, humorous, dark, ominous, and mysterious, I investigate the relationship between darkness and light as metaphors for personal struggle, uncertainty, courage, and change. My process is non-linear, iterative, and adaptive; I am learning from “what it is I do” while simultaneously trying to understand the “why I do it? 

I work across different mediums, allowing the materials and process to determine how these imagined environments take form. My everyday surroundings have become one of my strongest influences. Living in Honolulu, driving past Pūowaina (Punchbowl Crater) on my way to Waikīkī while looking toward Le’ahi (Diamond Head) influences the mountain ranges that repeatedly appear in my work. Living in Nuʻuanu, surrounded by streams, reservoirs, mountains, and the nearby ocean, also influences the bodies of water and landscapes that emerge in my compositions. Even when I am simply doodling, waves and familiar forms arrive unannounced. I have become aware that my subconscious is a pretty active being that operates on a different schedule. In my imagery, a looming cliff, an isolated light, an unfamiliar landscape, or even an absurd object can become symbolic. I may juxtapose inanimate objects in unexpected situations to introduce humor or place familiar objects into unfamiliar environments to suggest a social or political narrative. These compositions allow darkness and light to coexist, asking both myself and the viewer: Where does one search to find the light?

Ultimately, my work is an intrinsic journey of self-discovery and an attempt to understand the emotional walls that I have built while creating spaces that do not exist and bringing them into existence. I may never completely discover why certain forms, landscapes, and ideas continue to emerge, but that ambiguity has become part of what makes the process entertaining—almost as if I am on a quest searching for something without knowing exactly what the treasure will be when I find it. As I continue developing this body of work, I want to explore that threshold between darkness and light while inviting the viewer to come along for the ride. My goal is for viewers to become involved in the conversation, create their own narratives, and feel connected to the imagery while perhaps remaining unsure as to why. There is no wrong answer.