Backstory

My first trip to Hawai‘i gifted me with more than I could've imagined. Of those gifts, my realization of "who" Hawai‘ian people are, how they live, their reverence for and bond to the earth, was expressed by nearly every kind and gracious person I met and conversed with. These were my prized take-aways.

As I understand, the nature of the relationship between Polynesian people and with their land and the forces that shape that land is unique. The Polynesian people live on a knife’s edge. They have carved out an existence for themselves between the sea and earth's volatility. They inhabit that small space between the bounty of the sea and its destructive power—the small space between the security of dry land and the primeval forces boiling just beneath its surface.

This existence forged a distinct culture—a culture that understands the precarious position we all inhabit, as they live with it on a daily basis. It is a culture that has learned to distill its story into images, using a complex yet accessible pictograph system to tell their stories. There's is a unique acceptance of the cycles of birth and death, creation and destruction, beginnings and ends. In short, spiritual.

If you've traveled to this specific destination previously, then you know. If you've yet to make this journey, but dream of, hope to or plan to, continue doing so. The experience of visiting Hawai‘i is a reward unto itself.

Photo: Julian Scott Carroll

Our last day's moments just prior to departing on our return flight, found us wandering in awe across a field of hardened volcanic rock adjacent to Hwy 19. This became my ultimate take-away and source of creative ideation.

When a volcano erupts lava (or “Pahoehoe“ in Hawa‘i‘ian) leaves its unique mark upon everything it touches, creating vast swatches of new earth in the process. “Lava Signatures” image series (captured in 2018) of the remaining expanse from the Mauna Loa 1984 eruption, preserving in photographs what few have had the opportunity of experiencing in person. Creating Lava Signatures expressed in the form of wall art, is purposed to adorn uniquely personal living spaces. This vicarious connecting one with the majesty of Hawai‘i‘s nature in a small tangible way is the inspiration behind this work.

This said, I will be forever grateful to my wife for urging us to go to Hawai‘i. The experience of a lifetime allowed me to share Hawai’ian treasures too sacred to be separated from their ancient domain. These arresting images of igneous volcanic rock taken on the Big Island will, without a doubt, transform your walls into stunning topographical wonders.

Aloha,

Mark Scott Carroll

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