Hawai‘i Contemporary Announces 2022 Triennial Artist List and Exhibition Venues

Hawai‘i Contemporary Announces 2022 Triennial Artist List and Exhibition Venues As part of Hawai‘i Triennial 2022: Pacific Century – E Ho‘omau no Moananuiākea, 43 artists and collectives will explore themes of Pacific culture and ecology through historic works and new commissions presented by seven exhibition partners across Honolulu. Honolulu (October 18, 2021) – Hawai‘i Contemporary announced today the artist list for the inaugural Hawai‘i Triennial 2022 (HT22). Entitled Pacific Century – E Ho‘omau no Moananuiākea, HT22 will feature 43 artists and collectives from Hawai‘i, Asia-Pacific, and beyond, whose artwork will explore themes of history, place, social activism, environmental change, and Indigenous knowledge within the context of Hawaiʻi’s unique location at the confluence of Asia-Pacific and Oceania. The largest periodic showcase of contemporary art in Hawai‘i, HT22 will be presented across seven exhibition venues on the Hawaiian Island of O‘ahu, February 18 through May 8, 2022.  HT22 is curated by curatorial director Dr. Melissa Chiu (director of the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden in Washington DC), in collaboration with associate curators Dr. Miwako Tezuka (associate director of the Reversible Destiny Foundation in New York) and Drew Kahu‘āina Broderick (director of Koa Gallery, Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu).  “In a time of great change, the intention of the Hawai‘i Triennial is to offer reflection on recent histories throughout the Asia-Pacific and focus on illuminating artists and works that examine the intricacies of our present,” said Dr. Melissa Chiu, curatorial director for HT22. “It has been a privilege to work alongside my fellow curators Dr. Miwako Tezuka and Drew Broderick as we carefully considered the Triennial’s internationally oriented themes alongside Indigenous knowledge and local stories that impact contemporary art.”  Following the 2017 and 2019 biennials, which collectively welcomed over 200,000 guests from Hawai‘i and around the world, in 2020, the organization announced the transformation of its signature event into a triennial format and was renamed Hawai‘i Contemporary. Looking to the future, Hawai‘i Contemporary continues to build upon this foundation to create inspirational and sustainable exchanges.  “Engaging with art is powerful, and we are honored that our inaugural Hawai‘i Triennial will contribute to a dynamic conversation of learning from and interacting with works by local and global artists together” said Katherine Don, executive director of Hawai‘i Contemporary. “Our mission is to connect our island communities to the arts through programming, education, and ignite key cultural conversations across Hawai‘i and around the world.”  HT22’s 43 artists and collectives feature over 60 participants including internationally renowned cultural figures exhibiting alongside multiple generations of Hawai‘i-based artists, as well as others making their U.S. institutional debut.  The citywide exhibition will take place at the following seven venues: Bishop Museum, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawaii Theatre Center, Hawai‘i State Art Museum, Iolani Palace, Honolulu Museum of Art, and Royal Hawaiian Center. “We are thrilled to sponsor and partner with Hawai‘i Contemporary on the Hawai‘i Triennial,” said Karen Ewald, director of the Art in Public Places Program and the Hawai‘i State Art Museum. “This convening of artists celebrates the diversity, culture and histories of Hawai‘i, and we are excited to engage both locals and visitors alike.”  In addition to the exhibition, HT22 offers free public programs and events for students, families and a general audience, including workshops, artist talks, and panel discussions at partner venues, as well as activities and tours in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. The eleven-week event is organized by Hawai‘i Contemporary, a Honolulu-based nonprofit organization, and made possible by presenting sponsors the Hawai‘i State Art Museum supported by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and MakeVisible, a nonprofit whose mission is to create and sponsor innovative platforms for artists.  For more information and updates on the Hawai‘i Triennial 2022 (HT22), visit hawaiicontemporary.org HT22 Participating Artists & Collectives  ‘Ai Pōhaku Press (Maile Meyer and Barbara Pope) Ai Weiwei Richard Bell Herman Pi‘ikea Clark Eating in Public ‘Elepaio Press (Richard Hamasaki and Mark Hamasaki)  Chitra Ganesh Theaster Gates Ed Greevy and Haunani-Kay Trask Masanori Handa Tsuyoshi Hisakado Ai Iwane Michael Joo Karrabing Film Collective Izumi Kato Yuree Kensaku Sung Hwan Kim Liu Xiaodong Dan Taulapapa McMullin 目[mé]  Miao Ying  Beatriz Santiago Muñoz Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina (Joan Lander and Puhipau)  Leeroy New Shinro Ohtake Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio and Jonathan Kamakawiwo‘ole Osorio Pacific Sisters Piliāmo‘o (Mark Hamasaki and Kapulani Landgraf)  Ahilapalapa Rands Lawrence Seward Athena Robles and Anna Stein (Double A Projects)  Jennifer Steinkamp Sun Xun Mika Tajima Momoyo Torimitsu TOQA (Isabel Sicat and Aiala) Tropic Editions Gaku Tsutaja Ming Wong Xu Bing Chikako Yamashiro Justine Youssef Zheng Bo HT22 LEAD PRESENTING SPONSORS Hawai‘i State Art Museum and MakeVisible Additional sponsorship for HT22 is generously provided by the Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, DAWSON, Padosi Foundation, MATSON, National Endowment for the Arts, Creative New Zealand, Atherton Family Foundation, CPB Foundation, Engaging the Senses, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii Community Foundation, HEI and Hawaiian Electric, Sidney E Frank Foundation, Swayne Family Fund, Anonymous, AHL, Japan Foundation, and Shaka Tea. HT22 PARTNERS HT22 is made possible with the collaborative support from our partners including: Presenting Exhibition Partners: Bishop Museum, The City and County of Honolulu, The Friends of Iolani Palace, Hawai‘i State Art Museum, Hawaii Theatre Center, Honolulu Museum of Art, and Royal Hawaiian Center. Education Partners: Academy for Creative Media – West O‘ahu, East-West Center, Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, Pu‘uhonua Society and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa - Department of Art History Exclusive Airline Partner: Hawaiian Airlines Premier Hospitality Partner: ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach Hospitality Partners: Kaimana Beach Hotel, Lexus Hawaii by Servco, Prince Waikiki Creative Partners: NMG Network, Under My Umbrella ABOUT HAWAI‘I CONTEMPORARY Inspired by the unique histories of Hawai‘i, a gathering place for diverse peoples and cultures, Hawai‘i  Contemporary connects communities from across our islands, regions united by the Pacific Ocean, and beyond. As a collaborative art partner, we cultivate cultural alliances to showcase the Hawaiʻi Triennial every three years and to celebrate contemporary art and ideas. The multi-site triennial is complemented by year-round public and  education programs, contributing to the local arts ecosystem and affirming our commitment to creating an accessible gateway for contemporary art in Hawai‘i nei.    Follow Hawai‘i Contemporary on: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.