Hana McEvilly ‘Aloha ʻĒ aʻe’ Kapa and natural watercolor 11.25” x 14.25”

Hanja is a versatile artist whose work spans across various mediums including painting, animation, ceramics, sculpture, and digital design. With a BFA in painting from the University of Hawaii, Hanja’s artistic journey is marked by a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and a deep connection with her cultural roots.

Identifying firstly as a painter, Hanja considers her paintings to be her soul’s purpose. While her other mediums share similarities in style they are often an extension of that which she mainly communicates through canvas and brush. Her works are characterized by vibrant colors, soft boundaries between intricate details and primitive paint strokes. And an exaggerated distortion of proportion. Primarily figurative, her subjects melt into their environments like puzzle pieces. Drawing inspiration from cubism and contemporary pop-art.

Knowledge

Central to Hanja’s work are themes exploring the sacred connection between movement and deep feeling. She delves into these themes to unearth primal knowledge inherited from ancestors or messages from the universe on processing trauma and experiencing life with full awareness. These topics amplify her commitment to environmental consciousness and the cultural heritage of Hawaiian ancestors. She is often drawing inspiration from nature, dreams, and the ocean. Her paintings weave narratives on the symbiotic relationship between humans and ‘āina (earth in Hawaiian), and the imaginary line between the two.

Included within the vast library of Hanja’s paintings are an array of mediums such as acrylic, oil paint, chalk and oil pastel, and watercolor. Her recent work focuses on using non-toxic materials and reclaimed fabrics, reflecting her dedication to leading the art world toward more sustainable practices.