The sculpture "Pele, The Volcano Goddess" is an exquisite amalgamation of materials and myth, a tribute to the Hawaiian deity revered in local lore. The artist has thoughtfully selected a porcelain doll head to evoke the delicate yet commanding visage of the goddess, while a robust ceramic vase serves as her body—a metaphor for the earthen vessel of a volcano. Adorned with decorative moss, the sculpture hints at the thriving, yet perilously ephemeral life on the volcanic soil. The crepe paper Hibiscus flowers, handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, bloom around her, representing the island's beauty and the goddess's creative power. This piece is a personal embodiment of the artist as Pele, the fierce and beautiful goddess, intertwining her own identity with the elements of nature and myth.
The ancient Hawaiian story of Pele tells of a powerful and passionate deity, the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. She is known to manifest in both the molten lava that creates the islands and in the form of a beautiful, yet temperamental woman. Legends say that Pele's fiery temper sparks the explosive volcanic eruptions that both destroy and create land. As much as she is respected for her destructive power, Pele is also revered for her creative force, birthing new land as the lava cools and becomes solid rock. The saga of Pele encapsulates the cycle of destruction and creation that is so integral to the Hawaiian landscape and psyche.