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May 20, 2025

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NEW EXHIBITIONS HIGHLIGHT HAWAI‘I AND JAPANESE FESTIVALS

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I—This summer, the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) celebrates three decades of photography by Franco Salmoiraghi in the exhibition “Franco Salmoiraghi: Photographs of Hawai‘i from the 70s, 80s, and 90s,” on view May 23 to Oct. 12.

One of Hawai‘i’s most respected photographers, he documented the 1976 occupation of Kaho‘olawe at the invitation of the protestors. He captured the way of life of Waipi‘o Valley. And he turned the flora of Hawai‘i into sensuous high art. The black-and-white photographs on view reflect his affection for Hawai‘i and his powerful connection to the islands and its people.

Drawn primarily from HoMA’s collection, with some key loans, the exhibition highlights Salmoiraghi’s photographic explorations during a period of renewed interest in traditional Hawaiian practices, language and devotion to the ‘āina (land).

Black-and-white images display Salmoiraghi’s superb command of the formal qualities of light, shadow and texture. These sensuous photographs celebrate the intricate beauty of nature and of the human figure and explore layered metaphors of connection to the surrounding environment.

Included in the exhibition is Salmoiraghi’s portrait of cultural practitioner Edith Kanaka‘ole, which he calls “the best picture I ever made.” The image on the 2023 Edith Kanaka‘ole Quarter is based on this photograph.

Images of Waipi‘o Valley from the 1970s capture the lifestyle of the residents living in the isolated, traditional farming community. Also on view will be selections from Salmoiraghi’s photographs of Kaho‘olawe, taken over three decades, which helped focus attention on the deep cultural significance of the island to Hawai‘i’s people, and the ongoing commitment to restoration after many years of US military occupation.

Japan’s festivals in art

The calendar in Japan is marked by numerous festivals, or “matsuri.” HoMA Curator of Asian Art Shawn Eichman has selected scroll paintings, screens, prints and books that depict lively festivals, revealing surprisingly different approaches to this subject in the exhibition "Matsuri!"  on view through Aug. 17.

The festivals have diverse origins, ranging from the religions of Buddhism and Shinto and ancient cultural practices, to seasonal changes and movements of the stars.

The highlight of the exhibition is an early 17th-century screen that depicts a festival at the Toyokuni Shrine in Kyoto. The shrine was built to commemorate Toyotomi Hideyoshi—the warlord whose death gets the action rolling in the award-winning Hulu series Shogun. The screen is an artistic rabbit hole, alive with activity. Visitors can see shrine attendants performing a sacred dance to appease Hideyoshi’s spirit, a colorful procession and high-ranking officials in the shrine’s inner sanctum.

Images available on request.

About the Honolulu Museum of Art

HoMA is a gathering place where art, education, and community converge in two iconic buildings in the heart of Honolulu. Presenting our remarkable collection and innovative exhibitions in the galleries, screening the best in new 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 in order to deepen our connections with one another and the world we share. 

www.honolulumuseum.org

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