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Matthew Hakaj
25/26
Matthew Andrea Hakaj is an artist from Indianapolis, currently pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Illustration from the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Indianapolis. He enjoys working with fiber arts and various printmaking techniques. Much of his work engages with conversations about American identity, religion, and personal discovery, pulling inspiration from his and his family’s lived experiences. An important part of his process is the literal and metaphorical weaving of different subjects to engage people in a visual conversation about differing perspectives, beliefs, and narratives. With his work, he hopes to encourage introspection about one’s own ideas and beliefs and facilitate conversations between others about shared and differing experiences of how we all fit together as part of American society.
Untitled | Fabric with screen print and mixed media applications | 50x63
American Genesis | Fabric with mixed media applications | 48x85
“American Genesis is a fabric mosaic of hand-dyed, colored, and screen-printed cotton that is woven together to construct an image of a stained-glass window inspired by Christian frescos from late antiquity. It has patterns of stars, American politicians and companies, fingerprints, and Genesis 1 translated into binary code. The piece is a commentary on how many different and conflicting beliefs are the foundation of modern America. Much of our everyday actions are shaped by this foundation, even if we hold differing beliefs. I want to engage the viewer by asking them where they see themselves in these ideologies, even if they feel they participate in one and not another. Do you see yourself affected by or taking part in the unsavory parts of America? Are you able to make the choice to be a good Samaritan if you are American?”
