Visions of Death in Paradise An exhibition of brutal watercolors and digitally recrafted paintings by
Olivier Lai

Digitally re-crafted water colors are used to expose the hypocrisy of using the word Paradise as marketing and a trivializing description of idyllic Hawaii. As any other place, Hawaii experiences Birth, Growth, Death & Decay. Amidst paradisiacal scenes or typical local events, Olivier uses imaginary creatures, skeletons or metaphors to graphically integrate Death to "Paradise". The exhibition started on March 15th 2010 at the Kahilu Theatre Gallery (open 9:00am-3:00pm daily) paintings in this series include "Dead Fish", "Dead Gecko", "Dead Bugs", "Gecko's Lunch" and "Death in Paradise", all printed with giclee on canvas. Also shown are "Happy Face Spider" (already published in B/W in the Waimea Gazette, March 2007) and a "Lobster Diptych", both printed on watercolor paper with vivid colors. Special prints or formats can be arranged.

Happy Face Spider & Dead Bugs Gecko's Lunch & Death in Paradise Gallery Lobster Diptych Gallery

Imaginary fish bones

About the artist:

Olivier Lai was raised in a Parisian musical family where he was exposed to the arts from a very early age. Olivier studied physics in England and obtained his Ph.D. in astrophysics in 1996 from Paris University. After graduation, Olivier moved to Hawaii where he has remained for over 10 years, first as a post-doctoral fellow at the W.M. Keck Observatory and now at the Canada France Hawaii Telescope where he works in the field of experimental astronomy. Olivier is currently interested in different modes of understanding, especially those at the interface between art and science. In his spare time, Olivier enjoys painting, practicing on his guitar, and playing with his son. His musical tastes range from Bach to Cradle of Filth.

they'll greet us like liberators - said the lobster