Artist: Esther Hi'ilani Candari
Title: Tikvah: To Hope
Medium: Oil and 24k Gold on panel
Size: 7.5" X 13.5" (Frame is permanent and included)
Price: $450
About the Artwork: This piece is an exploration of some of the feelings I have experienced wrestling with the strained relationship between the organization of my religion, my personal faith, and racism. While there is so much that has been done wrong in the past and there is still so much improvement that is desperately needed, I have found that as I focus my work on connecting with a God and a Savior who intimately know the challenges of the oppressed and misunderstood, I am able to reclaim for myself the power and hope they offer. I am also better able to see the glimmers of progress that keep me moving forward and fighting for change because I have hope that it is possible.
About the Artist: Esther Hi’ilani Candari is a mixed race artist and educator from Hawai’i. She has an BFA from BYU-H, an MFA from Liberty University, and studied at the New York Academy of Art. Her work is primarily figurative and explores concepts such as; multiracial identity; gender and the female gaze in the context of religion; and the nuance of human psychology that can be expressed through portraiture. As an academic, her research and written work complement her visual artistry and serve to enrich and inform conversations related to race, gender, and Latter-day Saint doctrine. In addition to her studio work she designs curriculum for Sentient Academy, teaches art courses for Southern Virginia University, manages programming for Writ & Vision Gallery, and serves on the Board of Directors for Dialogue Foundation. Currently, she lives in Utah County with her husband, two rescue dogs, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants.
