Shangri La Audio

Shangri La Artist-In-Residence, Jordan Nassar is joined in conversation with Shangri La's Senior Curator of Collections & Exhibitions Dr. Leslee Michelsen and introduced by Public Programs & Events Coordinator Nahed Minawi. 

In this special audio program, we explore the artistic and curatorial voices behind recent exhibitions and programs at Shangri La. In this three part series we explore the work of Shangri La’s first Hawaii-based artist in residence, Kamran Samimi. Kamran participated in a residency at Shangri La from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 during which he created two exhibitions of original work. Check out the art here and here In part three of this series, Kamran talks with one of his artistic influences - his father, Jamil Samimi. Together, they explore notions about the truth of the universe, spirituality and philosophy, art and science, nature and Star Wars! Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. Featured music by Kahnma, audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti.

In this special audio program, we explore the artistic and curatorial voices behind recent exhibitions and programs at Shangri La. In this three part series we explore the work of Shangri La’s first Hawaii-based artist in residence, Kamran Samimi. Kamran participated in a residency at Shangri La from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 during which he created two exhibitions of original work. Check out the art here and here In part two of this series, Kamran talks with our Learning Programs Coordinator, Navid Najafi. They take a deep dive into Kamran’s process, the significance behind his choice of materials, and the concept of creating a home for one’s sense of self inside of art. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. Featured music by Kahnma, audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti.

In this special audio program, we explore the artistic and curatorial voices behind recent exhibitions and programs at Shangri La. In this three part series we explore the work of Shangri La’s first Hawaii-based artist in residence, Kamran Samimi. Kamran participated in a residency at Shangri La from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 during which he created two exhibitions of original work. Check out the art here and here. In part one of this series exploring Kamran’s work, we hear from Dr. Leslee Michelsen, Shangri La’s curator of collections and exhibitions. Leslee worked closely with Kamran throughout his residency and will talk about the significance of having Kamran as Shangri La’s first Hawaii-based artist in residence and what it means to curate both historic collections and contemporary artists. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. Featured music by Kahnma, audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti.

In this special audio series, different staff members from the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design talk with some of the artists featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition and take a deep dive into their processes, materialities, and their diverse takes on the theme of place. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. The music featured in this series is by Kahnma, a singer and songwriter featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition. Check out her full performance here. The 8x8 audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti. In this episode recorded during Black History Month, special guest interviewer, Dr. Akiemi Glenn, Executive Director of the Pōpolo Project, interviews movement artist, Sequoia Carr-Brown. The Pōpolo Project redefines what it means to be Black in Hawai‘i and in the world, and is one of Shangri La’s frequent partners and collaborators. Sequoia shares her experiences of being a Black woman living in Hawai‘i, how she uses her art as a way to work through trauma and shed light on forgotten parts of American history, and tells listeners how she first learned about Hawaii watching surfers on Lake Michigan as a child in her hometown of Chicago. “We should be more vigilant, speak our truth, and never apologize for it.” - Sequoia Carr-Brown

In this special audio series, different staff members from the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design talk with some of the artists featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition and take a deep dive into their processes, materialities, and their diverse takes on the theme of place. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. The music featured in this series is by Kahnma, a singer and songwriter featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition. Check out her full performance here. The 8x8 audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti. In this episode, Dr Konrad Ng, Shangri La’s Executive Director, talks with painter, Melissa Chimera, and actor and playwright, Moses Goods, about the importance of recognizing family lineages in forming our world view, Hawaii’s tradition of multiculturalism, and how to unpack the complicated layers of a place like Shangri La through artistic expression. “It’s sort of our mission as human beings to be able to negotiate and interpret one another’s culture and I think we do that extraordinarily well in Hawaii because of this multiculturalism that goes back hundreds of years.”- Melissa Chimera

In this special audio series, different staff members from the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design talk with some of the artists featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition and take a deep dive into their processes, materialities, and their diverse takes on the theme of place. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. The music featured in this series is by Kahnma, a singer and songwriter featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition. Check out her full performance here. The 8x8 audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti. In this episode, Karima Daoudi, Shangri La’s Public Programs & Special Events Coordinator, holds a conversation with multimedia artist and cellist, Nāwahineokalaʻi Lanzilotti, and textile artist and educator, Maya Portner, about how their relationship with Shangri La has changed over time, how they approached creating their pieces in a space that holds sacred art, and what it means to have an embodied artistic practice. “We’re all trying to rediscover what it feels like to find the sacredness of life” - Nāwahineokalaʻi Lanzilotti

In this special audio series, different staff members from the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design talk with some of the artists featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition and take a deep dive into their processes, materialities, and their diverse takes on the theme of place. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. The music featured in this series is by Kahnma, a singer and songwriter featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition. Check out her full performance here. The 8x8 audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti. In this episode, Navid Najafi, Shangri La’s Learning Programs Coordinator, talks with MC, singer and professor, Keith Cross - AKA Doctabarz - and photographer, Brandon Ng. They discuss native plants, delve into ideas of progress, and what it means to use art to occupy places where one has been excluded historically and culturally. “For us, we were affirming our humanity under the most despicable conditions and that resonates with people everywhere. Even the person with the most can appreciate what the person with the least creates because they’re going to find it useful. This is how we found life under constant threat and reality of death.” - Keith Cross

In this special audio series, different staff members from the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design talk with some of the artists featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition and take a deep dive into their processes, materialities, and their diverse takes on the theme of place. Conversations were recorded either in person in Shangri La’s offices following Covid-19 protocols, or via Zoom. The music featured in this series is by Kahnma, a singer and songwriter featured in the #8x8_shangrila exhibition. Check out her full performance here. The 8x8 audio series was recorded and edited by Jason Taglianetti. In this episode, Dr. Leslee Michelsen, Shangri La’s Curator of Exhibitions & Collections, holds a conversation with multimedia artist and professor, Reem Bassous, and dancer, philosopher and professor, Sai Bhatawadekar. They explore topics such as how to express ethereality through art, how to channel loss and rebirth, and the complex layers of what it means to appreciate, collect and share art and culture that is not your own. “I’m always affected by the complexity of what it means to call something yours that was not yours...appreciating, acquiring, collaging together different things from across the world that have meant something to you but at the same time have meant something to the places from where they came.That relationship is extremely complex.” - Sai Bhatawadekar