About
Shane Sakata, a photographer originally from Canada, has called Hawaiʻi home for over two decades. Her images fit within the post-documentary tradition and focus on paradoxes that confront us daily. With an eye for irony and humor, she uses her camera to question false realities, photographing scenes that are often overlooked and rarely examined.
Much of her work addresses such phenomena as consumer fantasy, the built environment, and, in Hawai‘i, the profound impact of tourism and colonialism. She finds the modern world very much like in The Wizard of Oz where big promises are often made but the Wizard himself is a fraud. He has no magical power to grant wishes. His ‘magic’ is in creating a beautiful facade that, when pulled back, reveals only what is truly valuable – the heart, mind and courage of the individual.
Shane’s photography practice is an outlet that allows her to visually focus on personally vexing subjects and encourages her to question the unintended evolution of what, historically, were often considered positive societal changes but in hindsight arose out of a desire for personal enrichment by the originators.
Her work is intended to engender a heightened awareness of the visual forces that bombard us daily and result in a consideration of their collective impact upon our personal quality of life and that of those around us.
In her current project, GREETINGS from The STATE of ALOHA, she exposes the façade of the tourism industry in Hawaiʻi and how it might be a surrogate for other places that suffer under the effects of mass tourism and colonial attitudes. Previous projects include No Outlet that explores the impacts of urban development and Enchanting Propaganda that focusses on consumerism in the retail environment.
Curriculum Vitae
Awards
2023
20th Julia Margaret Cameron Award – Culture and Daily Life Winner
Jurors: Elizabeth Avedon (Chair), Ann Jastrab, and Elizabeth Krist
2021
Pacific New Media Portfolio Award – Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2021
Juror: Catherine Whitney, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Honolulu Museum of Art
Exhibitions
2024
F-Stop Magazine – Cities 2024 (Issue #124)
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2024
Jurors: David Ulrich, Alison Beste, and Peter Shaindlin
2023
The Decisive Moment – PhotoPlace Gallery, Vermont Juror: Aline Smithson
The Curated Fridge – CultureLab LIC Long Island City, Queens, NY
Juror: Orestes Gonzalez, Director of Photographic Programming at CultureLab LIC
20th Julia Margaret Cameron Award – Individual Image Winner, Honorable Mention (2) & Series Honorable Mention
Jurors: Elizabeth Avedon (Chair), Ann Jastrab, and Elizabeth Krist
Documentary Photography 2023 – Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Juror: PF Bentley, former TIME Magazine photojournalist
2022
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻ’i 2022
Juror: Katherine Love, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, Honolulu Museum of Art
2021
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2021 – Pacific New Media Portfolio Award
Juror: Catherine Whitney, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Honolulu Museum of Art
“chair” exhibit – ASmith Gallery, Texas Juror: Kevin Tully
2020
New Normal: Contemporary Photography from a Pandemic in the Pacific – Honolulu, HI (Honorable Mention)
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2020
Juror: Maika Pollack, Director and Chief Curator, John Young Museum of Art and University of Hawai‘i Mānoa Galleries + Assistant Professor of Curatorial Studies and Art History
2019
Contemporary Landscape – PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
Jurors: Jacob and Alissa Hessler
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2019 Juror: Matt Mallams, Photo Editor of Hana Hou! Magazine
2018
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻ’i 2018
Jurors: PNM Core Faculty: Alison Beste, David Ulrich, and Tracy Wright Corvo
2016
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2016
Juror: James (Jay) Jensen, Curator of Contemporary Art, Honolulu Museum of Art
Publications
2024
DAC Arts March Volume 4 (Page 5) – “Photo Exhibit Captures ‘Darkness of Uncertainty’” Article by David Ulrich
2023
Self-published:
Hoʻokupu – 24 pages, hand bound with a belly band closure, 15 monochrome images, 5 1/2-inch square.
No Outlet – 24 pages, perfect bound, 18 color images, 24 pages, 6 by 6-inch square.
2022
The Mindful Photographer: Awake in the World with a Camera (Page 111) by David Ulrich (Rocky Nook)
2021
PEER Volume 3 (Page 41) A collection of images curated from the Visual Conservancy social media group and published by Cottage Industry Arts
Relevant Education
Ongoing
Pacific New Media, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
(Selected coursework under the instruction of David Ulrich, Creative Director)
2024
Integrating Photos + Type with Ellen Sheffield – Maine Media Workshops
2023
Drum Leaf Binding and its Precedents with Scott McCarney – Center for Book Arts, New York
2022
Photographing the Social Landscape with Thomas Alleman – Los Angeles Center for Photography
Bookbinding of Your Artwork without Folds & Handmade Binding without Stitches
Domestika – Self Guided Online Classes by Susana Dominguez Martin
2016
Photography + Experience with Franco Salmoiraghi ¬¬- University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Outreach College sponsored by UHM Pacific New Media
2012
The Sacred Urban Landscape, Weekend Workshop with Doug Beasley
University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Outreach College sponsored by UHM Pacific New Media
Lectures/Webinars
2024
Reconsidering the Journey with Aline Smithson
The Creative Process of Making a Book with Mona Kuhn
Image + Text by Aline Smithson
Photobiography with Martin Parr
2022
To Be Published or to Self-Publish Options and Considerations for Artist today with Mary Virginia Swanson
Volunteer Work
2024
Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi 2024 (Downtown Art Center, Honolulu Hawai’i) – Service award (sponsored by Art Source and Designs) for the coordination of volunteers and overall exhibition assistance to David Ulrich
2023
Co-coordination of artists and venue for a group zine sale in conjunction with the Documentary Photography 2023 show (Downtown Art Center, Honolulu Hawaiʻi)
Other Education and Experience
Certified Management Accountant – Society of Management Accountants of British Columbia (Silver Medalist) – Performed senior finance and accounting functions in a variety of industries in both the United States and Canada