lisa asagi

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journey whales

soundings series collaboration

soundings series collaboration

My artwork leads me down a path I’ve paved since childhood. More specifically, how I found my tribe in the world of animals. Having grown up in an urban jungle — the concrete landscape of industrial Kalihi — the natural, wild world felt very far away, so I intentionally surrounded myself with it. I lined my bedroom walls with clippings from magazines such as National Geographic and Ranger Rick, and created a wild kingdom of my own. Now, when I look back, I maybe had a sense that animals were tethered to a deeper, instinctual truth, unburdened by the constructs of the human world.

These whale and fellow creature sculptures are a physical extension of a lifelong longing, that has allowed me to bridge the distance between my urban environment and the creatures I yearn to meet. Each piece is an invitation to form a relationship—a tangible expression of kinship, friendship. Through this work, I am not merely making art; I reach out across the boundaries of species to honor a deep-rooted bond with my true community.