About
Shannon “owo” Webb was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. There she attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree focusing in ceramics. In 2023, Shannon received a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Montana. She is currently a Long Term Artist in Residence at the Red Lodge Clay Center.
Artist Statement
What has been called spirit, soul, the unseen animating life force–I think of it as energy. My artwork is about recognizing the presence of this spiritual energy within all things and how it connects everything, the animate, the inanimate, and more.
I am from Hawai‘i where there is a strong emphasis on mālama ‘āina (respect for the land). This not only comes from the beliefs of the Kānaka Maoli (indigenous Hawaiians), but also from the influence of Shintoism, Buddhism, and animistic religions. The cultural melting pot of these beliefs has resounded the most clearly to me above the teaching of any one religion. I find solace in walking a mixed path that focuses on being, and one that is open to change. I choose to be meaningful with my intentions through active practice, and my art is a process to understand those intentions better.
I am reconnecting with my Korean heritage as a way to recognize the knowledge and history that came before me. This includes Korean folktales, mythology, and cultural practices. A central concept that I have adapted is the idea of making ‘real’. Teachings are passed down through stories. Stories are made real through images and sculptures. We acknowledge these realities through practice. It would be hollow to replicate Korean traditions when my needs come from very different circumstances, so I reimagine them through the lens of my current state. The result is a new reality inspired by creatures, natural forces, and my experience in the here and now.
I make my beliefs real through ceramic and mixed media sculptures. My process starts by practicing reverence for the world through my own means. This could involve a specific interaction with the land, celebrating a celestial event, or a gesture of gratitude. I allude to the core concepts of such experiences through symbolic representation. Flowers, water, human and animal figures are recurring symbols I use to communicate transformation, interconnectivity, and the presence of spiritual energy.