Laura Kina Sugar Artist Statement

Set during the 1920’s-1940’s, Laura Kina’s SUGAR paintings recall obake ghost stories and feature Japanese and Okinawan picture brides turned machete carrying sugar cane plantation field laborers on the Big Island of Hawaii. Drawing on oral history and family photographs from Nisei (2nd generation) and Sansei (3rd generation) from Peepekeo, Pi’ihonua, and Hakalau plantation community members as well as historic images, Kina’s paintings take us into a beautiful yet grueling world of manual labor, cane field fires and flumes.

Read the press.

Issei Oil on canvas 30 x 45 in. 2011

Kasuri Oil on wood panel 30 x 45 in. 2010 Private collection Chicago, IL

Cane Fire Oil on canvas 30 x 45 in. 2010