"Unfolded By The Water" by Jennifer Valenzuela

Unfolded By The Water, 2023

36x30"
Oil, Spray Paint, Pen, 22k Gold Leaf, and Resin on Wooden Panel with Epoxy 

Created in the aftermath of the Lahaina fires, Unfolded By the Water is both an offering and a call to remember the sacred relationship between water, life, and community. The title is inspired by the Hawaiian ʻōlelo noʻeau, “Unfolded by the Water,” reflecting the understanding that wisdom, abundance, and our truest selves are revealed through our connection to wai.

In Hawaiian culture, wai means water, but it is also the root of waiwai, meaning wealth. Water is not simply a resource. It is an ancestor, a source of nourishment, and a living force that sustains the land and its people. The devastating fires in Lahaina brought urgent attention to the consequences of water diversion and the ongoing struggle for water rights throughout Hawaiʻi.

Layers of luminous color, flowing forms, and 22 karat gold leaf evoke rivers of memory, resilience, and renewal. The resin surface creates a depth that mirrors both reflection and immersion, inviting viewers to contemplate what emerges when we honor water not as a commodity, but as a sacred source of life.

This painting is an invitation to recognize that our future, like our past, is unfolded by the water.