Reflect: Modern and Contemporary Highlights

Part of the Joyful Return exhibition, Reflect: Modern and Contemporary Highlights is a presentation of significant paintings, sculptures, photographs, new media, and works on paper from HoMA’s permanent collection by iconic 20th-century artists—the majority of whom are women and artists of color. These masters of their respective mediums shattered perceptions about traditional art forms and practices and pioneered new ideas and methods of expression, often during periods of personal struggle or cultural unrest. 

The works of these iconic artists, rarely on view together, will encourage viewers to think more deeply about the crises and challenges that even successful modern and contemporary artists faced in their own lifetimes. A significant aspect of the installation is the inclusion of audio and written “reflections” by eighteen Community Voices respondents from different backgrounds and professions across Honolulu, accessible through QR codes on the object labels. Individual participants were invited to interpret a work of art in Reflect from the perspective of their daily, pandemic-affected lives. The array of diverse responses underscore the infinite number of approaches and interpretations possible when considering a work of art, and reinforce the vital role of the public in broader museum conversations.