Edgy artists push limits

Kauai’s landscapes, seascapes and florals provide plenty of inspiration for artists to create reflections of the beauty that surrounds them. In fact, various depictions of that beauty are on view in the current Kaua‘i Society of Artists’ Membership Show.

But other artists are pushing the boundaries of art by expressing esoteric, spiritual and political statements. These works go beyond the superficial and require study and introspection by the viewer.

Katy Zeidner’s artwork "Crime: Education; Jury and Prosecutors: Boko Haram," for instance, is self-evident and necessarily provocative. The work is inspired by the kidnapping of 276 girls in April by the terrorist group Boko Haram. The Christian and Muslim girls, ages 13 to 18, were taken while preparing for final exams at a school in Chibok, Nigeria.

While some girls managed to escape, it is estimated that more than 200 are still being held and presumably used as slaves.

Expressing her outrage, Zeidner formed more than 200 figures about 6 inches high to represent the kidnapped girls.

As she carefully built each figure and clothed them with black fabric to represent burqas, Zeidner "thought deeply about each individual girl who was so dedicated to learning and had dreams to become teachers or enter into the medical field."

Her choice of including burqas, despite the girls’ varied religious backgrounds, signifies the fact that the girls were forced by their kidnappers to follow the law of Islam whether or not they were Muslim.

Zeidner’s figures are crowded into a large cage with a hanging noose, a thick rope and a padlock securing their captivity.

The work is a departure from Zeidner’s usual painted works, which include portraits and serene images of nature. When she is motivated to express a political statement, however, the artist turns to fiber to portray figures with striking 3-D effect.

Alongside the cage, she includes a quote from the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai: "The best tool to fight extremism is education, especially of girls, and that means ensuring that it is safe to study. The greatest threat to militancy in the long run comes not from drones, but from girls with schoolbooks."

Another powerful work by Freddie Zollinger, is created from koa and monkeypod wood. "Kahuna’s Hand" depicts a skeleton of a hand with a small skull etched into one finger. Dark monkeypod heartwood serves as a platform for the "bones" carved from the naturally white sapwood at the center of the monkeypod. Zollinger’s carved replica of an ancient Hawaiian weapon is embedded in the hand.

"In my legendary-weapon series, I try to increase mana by a mount or image that fits the weapon," said Zollinger. "This piece goes with an arcane tale that I will provide only to the buyer."

Leslie Hagen’s ceramic piece "Lost My Head," meanwhile, portrays a charming home scene with something gone awry. A figure, seated in a comfortable chair with a dog standing excitedly on her lap, is headless. The head lies in repose on the floor.

"My goal is for the viewer to develop their own interpretation of my work — everyone gets something different from art," said Hagen about the piece.

The artist begins her work with an outline, "but the piece then progresses and develops on its own. It could have been a Norman Rockwell scene, but it took a turn for the worse!"

The Kaua‘i Society of Artists had its start in 1983. Its annual membership show has become a popular event in the community, with visitors casting their votes for the People’s Choice Award.