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From paintings to crafts to ceramics, the second floor of the exhibition hall is filled with art.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Hilo have teamed up to uncover the forgotten history of Koreans on the Big Island. Faculty from the English, Business, Language and Arts departments contributed to “One Heart: Korea Art and History Across the Pacific,” a new exhibition bringing together art and new historical research at Hilo’s Wailoa Center.
Seri Luanfinis traces the gravestones of Pahala.
At the helm of the Hilo partnership is Seri Luanfinis, a professor of English who has conducted extensive research on the history of Korean immigration to the Big Island. Among her exhibits are the tombstone rubbings she collected during her fieldwork on the Big Island of Hawaii. Through Luanfinis’ exemplary research, Korean families on the island were able to reunite with their long-lost ancestral generations.
“We need to better understand and appreciate the Asian presence on this island,” Luanfinis said. “Koreans are a forgotten people here, and that’s a shame considering their contributions to local society and Korea.”
find history
Luanfinis’ research ranges from the arrival of the first Koreans to the Big Island of Hawaii to the exploration of Korean cemeteries.
The exhibition features four rubbings of tombstones of Koreans who lived and died on the Big Island of Hawaii, discovered by Luangpinis.
The first wave of Korean immigrants arrived between 1905 and the 1920s. The second wave arrived during the Japanese occupation and again during the Korean War.
“Intuitively, I started looking into Korean cemeteries because I knew that immigrants from Japan and China recorded their homelands and families on their graves. And sure enough, Koreans did the same. ,” Luangpinis said.
creative showcase
The second floor of the exhibition is filled with art, showcasing the diverse voices and visions of Korean artists. From paintings and mixed media artwork to crafts and ceramics, our gallery shows take viewers on a creative, emotional and historical journey. Michael Marshall, art professor at the University of Hilo, curated the exhibit, and the works were judged or extensively reviewed by Mijin Shin, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester. Faculty and students from the University of Hilo’s School of Fine Arts helped prepare the exhibits.
“Collaboration is a journey, and everyone involved in the process gains a broader understanding of the subject matter,” Marshall said.
The exhibition opens on May 3rd and runs until June 20th. This exhibition is sponsored by the University of Hilo College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Manoa Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity. Major funding comes from the Hawaii Humanities Council through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, visit UH Hilo Stories.
—Written by Susan Enright
