Name/Title
Hawaiian Batik - Untitled Wahine Art NouveauEntry/Object ID
MK_1249Description
This striking artwork by Yvonne Cheng exemplifies the fusion of traditional craft and modern vision. The composition features a woman, with much of her body covered in duplicate spheres rendered in varied hues and densities, creating a vivid interplay of color and form. The arrangement and decorative sensibility evoke the spirit of Art Nouveau, reminiscent of the iconic works of Austrian painter Gustave Klimt.
Cheng employs batik techniques, a traditional Southeast Asian style in which hot wax is applied to cloth in intricate patterns before dyeing. This process allows the artist to selectively preserve the fabric’s original color, resulting in layered, complex designs that highlight both the artist’s control and the medium’s unpredictability. Cheng's use of this historic form to create such a modern design, distinguishes this piece as a rare and innovative example within contemporary art.
Acquired in 2024, the piece adds to the Mauna Kea's existing collection of Sri Lankan batiks created by renowned artist Ena de Silva, who made them for the hotel at the commission of Laurance Rockefeller in 1965.Made/Created
Date made
1980Place
State/Province
Hawai'iCountry
U.S.A.Continent
North AmericaDimensions
Height
46-1/2 inWidth
40 inLocation
* Untyped Location
Concierge BreezewayFloor
Lobby LevelBuilding
Main Tower