53. She Who Shall Become with Artist Esther Hi'ilani Candari

This week, Esther Hi’ilani Candari joins Jess in discussing representation in artwork and her personal journey of seeking and depicting Heavenly Mother. In this discussion, Esther shares of her mixed Asian American family and rich multicultural upbringing in Hawai’i. Pulling from the beautiful influence of Polynesian symbolism and ideology, she explains her painting titled “Makua.” She also describes the details of “She Who Shall Become,” and the months of research into ancient Ethiopian and Egyptian cultures that inform the piece. Emphasizing the importance of using our abilities to serve underprivileged peoples, Esther explains why she strives to depict women and diversity with her brush. Join Esther as she recounts to Jess the hope she has found since difficulties during and post-missionary service for the Church. She shares how embracing the theology of a Mother in Heaven has the potential to not only improve her own experience, but the lives of all humankind. Esther is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hiilanifinearts Her piece "Makua" is featured in A Girl's Guide to Heavenly Mother, sold at Deseret Book and https://bit.ly/qnoorgirlsguide