
Kapulani Landgraf
Born 1966 Pūʻahuʻula, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Lives and works in
Pūʻahuʻula, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Kapulani Landgraf’s practice captures a contemporary indigenous view of sacred places and land issues in Hawai‘i. Passionately concerned with heritage and cultural issues, she draws on the Hawaiian language, as well as cultural traditions, storytelling and legends in her practice. Known for her stunning books of photographs documenting remote sacred sites, she also creates photo collages juxtaposing historical and original photographs with images associated with personal and traditional symbolism. These works honour ancestral connections to ancient landscapes, and expose the legacies of colonisation and modern development that have threatened and destroyed places that are significant parts of Hawaiians' identity as na poe 'aina, the first people of the land. While she has a distinct political message and describes her camera as a ‘weapon’ of defence, her works are not authoritarian or heavy handed, instead aiming to educate, challenge and provoke thought.