Kenyatta Kelechi (b. 1990) uses the 19th-century technique of wet-plate collodion photography to examine concepts of indigenous identity and connection to family and place. At first glance his glass plate ambrotypes, metal plate tintypes and black-and-white prints look like they are from another time, but closer viewing reveal the subjects are contemporary Kanaka ‘Ōiwi cultural practitioners in these celebrations of their enduring respect and care for the ‘āina.

“Kelechi’s expertise in the collodion process offers a way to learn from and give back to the community. We see the artist’s respect for these individuals and for the profound impact they have made in Hawaiʻi through engaging with their communities and passing down their cultural knowledge and practices,” says Katherine Love, HoMA’s associate curator of contemporary art and curator of the exhibition.

The collodion process may be more than 150 years old, but it is highly technical. It relies on a precise balance of chemicals to produce the hauntingly beautiful images of people such as Titus Kinimaka and the Moniz family. Kelechi recognizes a correlation between the wet-plate process, which is conducted on site and is easily affected by shifting weather conditions, and indigenous cultures’ close connection to land. 

The artist, who grew up in Kailua on O‘ahu, comes from a richly varied background and as a youth felt disconnected from his Hawaiian heritage. The laborious process necessary to create a glass ambrotype or an aluminum tintype allows Kelechi to spend time learning from his subjects and has become a way for him to actively participate in his community.

By adapting the collodion technique, which was what outsiders in the early 1900s used to document Native Hawaiians, Kelechi engages with a complex history. Acknowledging this past, the artist makes a point to learn as much as he can about his subjects and offers them a role in the creative process by inviting them to suggest locations, clothing, poses and compositions for photography shoots.

“Laulima,” which literally translates as “many hands,” illustrates the give and take between artist and subject and contrasts with the traditional idea of the photographer as an observer. Instead, Kelechi’s work expresses the desire to engage with and learn from community members while sharing with his subjects the authority of representation.

Support for this exhibition is provided by the Judith and Wayne Pitluck Fund for Contemporary Art.

RELATED PROGRAMS

Art Talk
In Conversation: Kenyatta Kelechi on “Laulima”
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024; 2:00-3:00 p.m.; Gallery 14
Free with general admission, registration required at myhoma.org/kenyatta-kelechi-talk
Artist Kenyatta Kelechi speaks with curator Katherine Love about his work in “Laulima.” His glass and aluminum plates and large-scale black-and-white prints document and celebrate Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) cultural practitioners of today and their enduring respect and care for the ʻāina.

Workshop
Wet-Plate Photography with Kenyatta Kelechi
Saturday, October 19, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, November 16, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Artist Kenyatta Kelechi leads a workshop on the 19th-century wet-plate collodion photographic process. Kelechi will give a tour of his exhibition “Laulima” through the gallery then guide participants through the process of coating, exposing and developing a light-sensitive plate collodion image of a still life. Space is limited. For more information and to register, go to “Special Offerings” at honolulumuseum.org/art-classes.

​​The Honolulu Museum of Art is a gathering place where art, education and community converge in two iconic buildings in the heart of Honolulu. Presenting its remarkable collection and innovative exhibitions in the galleries, screening the best in new and classic cinema and offering a full curriculum of studio art classes, HoMA is a vital, transformative part of Hawai‘i’s cultural landscape accessible to all.

​​The museum inspires and uplifts the community through transformative art experiences that celebrate creativity, cultivate wonder, foster empathy and enhance knowledge to deepen our connections with one another and the world we share.