“On the last day of the world
I would want to plant a tree”
-W.S. Merwin
Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu
January 17, 2025 - March 16, 2025
On Maui, the poet W.S. Merwin planted a forest of over 450 species of palms. His legacy celebrates the intricate harmonies of life and brings together his love of poetry, his study of Zen Buddhism and his passion for nature.
“I want to tell what the forests
were like
I will have to speak in a forgotten
language.”
-W.S. Merwin, “Witness”
Inspired by Merwin’s life and the forest he nurtured, I humbly present my encounters exploring his 18-acre sanctuary on Maui. In my own attempt to remember a ‘forgotten language,’ I use technology to mirror the forest’s complexity, delicate balance, ephemeral beauty and profound interconnections. My work is both an homage and invitation: a call to honor the resilience, mystery, and transformative power of the Earth. It is a reminder that nature can renew and heal - not only itself, but also us. I am profoundly grateful to the W.S. Merwin Conservancy for graciously allowingg me to visit this extraordinary garden and for artwork being born in gratitude and reverence.