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2022.23.11

Painting by Solomon Enos, titled "The Nose Musician"

2022.23.11

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Painting by Solomon Enos, titled "The Nose Musician"
Long description
Painting by Solomon Enos, titled "The Nose Musician", 11 of 16 insect and Arachnid People of Subterranean Hawai'i, commissioned by the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, England. 9x12", Acrylic on Bristol board, 2021. Endemic Hawaiian Insect: Limnooxenus semicylindricus. Narrative: To pass the time during a day long trip deep into the boggy interior of this subterranean realm.a travelling musician has taken out his 'the hand ihu (bamboo nose flute) to play. And to add to this impromptu performance with an audience of softly humming flora and fauna flanking both sides of the path, this nose flutist taps out mesmerising rhythm with two sets of 'ili'ili' (river stones) that were just collected from a shallow stream. And as the haunting melody of the 'ohe hano ihu is accented and given structure by this gentle rhythmic' tapping, the whispering kin that are the many insects and spiders who chose to remain in their original forms, augment their discordant songs to seek harmony with this mobile performer. And even for many hours after he has passed, the original kin continue to resonate this new tune, which will begin to spread across the forest, even reaching the musicians destination well in advance of the true performance. Artists note: this series is based on a scene within an Hawaiian Mythological Epic called Hi'iakaikapoliopele, where the heroine Hi'iaka encounters a subterranean world populated by shape-shifting insect-people.
Date / Period
Date made: 2021
Date collected
2021
Acquisition information
Purchased: 2021
Materials and processes
Material Cardboard Paper Plant, Material Acrylic Paint Synthetic, Material Pencil, Process Painted, Process Drawn
Dimensions
Length x Width 303 x 226 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 2022.23.11
Research and responses

Biographical information about the artist: Solomon Robert Nui Enos is a Native Hawaiian artist, illustrator and visionary. Born and raised in Makaha Valley (O'ahu, Hawai'i), Solomon hails from the well known Enos 'ohana (family). Solomon has been making art for more than 30 years and he adept at artistic expression in a wide variety of media including oil paintings, book illustrations, murals and game design. A self-described "Possibilist" Solomon's art expresses an informed aspirational vision of the world at its best via contemporary and traditional art that leans towards Sci-Fi and Fantasy. His work touches on themes like collective-consciousness, ancestors and identity, our relationship with our planet, and all through the lens of his experience as a person indigenous to Hawai'i. Solomon has exhibited in Biennial X (Honolulu Museum of Art), 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (Queensland Art Gallery), CONTACT art exhibitions, and others. His work is held in private collections and in the public collections of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Centre and Hawai'i State Art Museum. He has led numerous community mural projects and has received art commissions for hotels, corporate offices, public buildings, and schools in Hawai'i, His latest works include murals and augmented-reality installations for Google and Disney.

Search terms: Picture, Painting

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