Mokihana - Hawaii 

Curator: Looking at John Melville Kelly's print, titled "Mokihana - Hawaii," what immediately captures your attention? Editor: It's striking. There's an immediate sense of quiet dignity about her, conveyed so simply through the soft etching lines. It makes me think of representations of Polynesian women within colonialism. I wonder how Kelly engages, or perhaps, doesn't engage with these colonial portrayals? Curator: That's insightful. This work uses the Art Nouveau style combined with a realist portrayal, drawing from traditions of representing women. The title itself, linking her to the "Mokihana", a specific lei and the island, indicates he's trying to imbue her with local identity. The nudity situates it in an ethnographic display tradition of "native women". Editor: Right, that juxtaposition is complex. The soft lines and profile view evoke classicism, yes, while emphasizing her distinct features—the texture of her hair, the shape of her nose, attempt to give her specificity. But then this could be read as further “othering”, no? Curator: Absolutely. The details hold immense cultural significance. It is etched as a portrait that emphasizes not just likeness, but the sitters unique character, but in terms that remain quite general, especially as there's no date to allow placing within social trends. What do you notice in terms of her expression or posture? Editor: There’s an undeniable power. She isn’t looking at the viewer, avoiding any potential objectification. Her chin is tilted upwards, as if she's looking toward the future. The choice of black and white flattens the space and throws the shadows into relief to suggest not realism, but idealization. I think the very "Hawaii" added into the title turns it into something almost abstract for western audiences too, it almost becomes a symbolic geography of desire, rather than a portrait of a person. Curator: I think your interpretation highlights how our perception can really influence what we are able to see and value when we approach an artwork with fresh perspectives, making these historical portrayals both potent documents and reminders of complicated dynamics. Editor: Precisely. We can continue to learn about visual strategies from Kelly, but hopefully use these learnings to look more closely at their inherent sociopolitical claims.