Census
One Painting, Many Parts
Census started with a single idea: to create a painting depicting the entire living population of one species—the ‘ALALĀ, or Hawaiian Crow.
In 2016, that number stood at just 114.
It was inspired, in part, by the water-filled calabashes reputedly used by the ancient Polynesian navigators. Painted in acrylic on canvas stretched over a 48” round panel, it is mounted on a functioning turntable and coated with resin. When placed flat, the piece can be turned and viewed from any angle.
Census - Acrylic on Turntable, 2016
The Ahu A ‘Umi heiau, located in an area of the Big Island known as The Plain Of Numbering, was chosen as the setting for the painting for two reasons: it had reputedly been the site of the first island-wide census in the 15th century, and it lies within the historical range of the ‘Alala.
The heiau likely functioned as a symbolic representation of the cosmos, aligned with surrounding terrestrial and celestial features and events. The painting recreates these alignments.
First described by Wilkes in 1840–41, Ahu A ‘Umi heiau consisted of a central walled enclosure with walls 8 feet high. Surrounding the enclosure were 8 monumental ahu, or "flat-topped pyramids", ranging from 12–15 feet in height. The enclosing wall is visible around the entire inner circle of the painting, placing the viewer inside the heiau looking up and out at the surrounding sky and landscape.
A short distance due west there is a smaller enclosure, the Hale O Papa, or House of Papa, the Earth Mother. The widths and heights of the ahu and hale o papa are all as they would have appeared and are aligned to their surroundings.
0° — North
Resources list:
Star Charts
Historical photographs
Digital elevation model of the Big Island
3D terrain modeling software
90° — East
180° — South
114 ‘Alala—1 Species
Census explores the ways in which we perceive numbers.
Do you look at the ‘Alala and think "So few!" ?
Or do you think "Wow! That’s a lot of birds!" ?
You might perceive a number in a literal sense, or in a visual sense—as parts, or as the sum of parts.
270° — West
58° — Pu‘u Poli‘ahu - Mauna Kea, Summer Sunrise
It is often noted that, from Ahu a ‘Umi heiau, the surrounding mountains: Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai all appear similar in size, or prominence.
This is made clear in the painting, as their sizes and positions were all carefully calculated and aligned.
125° — Winter Sunrise, Mauna Loa
240° — Winter Sunset
In Hawaiian mythology, the cosmic spider, Lanalana, wove its web across the sky thus providing guidance and direction for the motion of the stars.
The grid you see here is a modern interpretation of this cosmic web which traces the paths of the stars across the sky.
305° — Summer Sunset, Hualalai
References:
Armando M. Da Silva; Rubellite Kawena Johnson (May 1982). "Ahu a ʻUmi Heiau: A Native Hawaiian Astronomical and Directional Register". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 385: 313–331
Charles Wilkes. Narrative of the United States Exploring Edition, Vol. IV, 1845
Satellite Data: Coordinates of Ahu A ‘Umi heiau — 19°38'2.72"N 155°46'50.00"W — Measuring from a single vantage point within the walls of the heiau, bearings for each of the outlying Ahu—cairns—were measured to the nearest 1/2 degree using the existing bases of the ahu as seen on satellite imagery.