The Process is the Art: Jeddie Kawahatsu’s Replica Replica

There comes a time when every artist must step out of their protective cocoon and spread their wings. That time has arrived for our resident artist, Jeddie Kawahatsu.

Friends may know Jeddie as a baker, dancer, zouker, writer, traveler, and food blogger. Professionally, she’s known for her expertise in marketing, content creation, and crafting compelling storyboards and production agendas. But this Friday, June 6th, at the launch of her inaugural art exhibition, Replica Replica, Jeddie will be revealing a side of herself that few have seen.

The idea of doing so is, in her own words, scary.

“Being vulnerable and open about your work and then putting it out there for everyone to see is a scary process,” she says. “You don’t know how it’s going to be perceived, or if people will even understand it.” That uncertainty has already surfaced in early conversations as she’s invited people to the show.

“People don’t understand the title of my show,” she admits. “Some don’t even realize it’s an art exhibition.”

But with a bit of explanation, understanding follows.

“The things I create—I consider them translations or interpretations. They’re replicas of memories and experiences I’ve had. So, it’s a copy, or translation, of those things.”

For her upcoming exhibit, Jeddie's drawn upon the interpretive gifts she typically reserves for work and her other creative outlets, and turned that lens inward, exploring her own thoughts, emotions, and visions.

Take her “lantern piñata,” a central piece in the exhibition. Crafted from cut-up Amazon boxes, the structure takes the shape of a round lantern, layered with fringe made from her old journal entries—some dating back to 2018. The words, while present, aren’t readable. They’re hidden, transformed, and translated once more.

These written fragments reflect lived experiences—some joyful, others painful—and represent former versions of herself. Writing them down was a way for Jeddie to process her memories; sealing the pages was a way to preserve them. And now, preparing for the exhibit, the act of physically cutting them up became its own meditation—a symbolic gesture of letting go.

So what does it all mean?

Perhaps Replica Replica is a way for Jeddie to release these memories—and the expectation that she must continue to live within those narratives.

But the show is not solely about her own processing. In addition to the lantern piñata, the exhibition includes traditional canvas works, another 3D installation, and an interactive piece designed for guests. That final piece invites viewers to participate in reflection with a prompt: “Things I keep, and things I give away.”

It’s a question that can bring up both pain and healing. “Sometimes we give away parts of ourselves we shouldn’t,” Jeddie reflects. “Sometimes we hold onto things—memories, feelings, patterns—that are not healthy. We give too much because we’re people pleasers, and we end up holding onto resentment or projecting negativity to protect ourselves.”

But there’s beauty in the prompt, too.

“It’s also a chance to ask: What do I aspire to give away—joy, selflessness, time? And what do I want to hold onto—confidence, growth, presence?”

“I’m happy if this piece can kickstart someone else’s own processing—something they want to connect to.”

The entire exhibit is meant to be immersive. “I’m not a photographer,” Jeddie notes, “but I’ve been in dark rooms with friends developing film.” That idea of a red-lit processing room became the conceptual anchor for her show. “I’m hoping that as viewers walk through the exhibition, they feel like they’re in that room too—that they’re being processed along with the work. And that they’re changed by the experience.”

RAPID FIRE Q&A— LEARN MORE ABOUT JEDDIE:

MUDRA LOVE: If you could describe your creative process in just one word, what would it be?

JEDDIE KAWAHATSU: The first word that comes to mind is “regimented.” But then, the complete opposite follows—“explorative.” I carry both of these aspects within me. Sometimes they intersect beautifully and flow, and other times it’s a total tug of war.

ML: How have your travels influenced or inspired your creativity?

JD: Seeing the world and gaining fresh perspectives helps me recalibrate—my values, my systems, my mission. It allows me to make connections I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

ML: If you could have one superhuman power to help with your work at Ember Media, what would it be?

JD: A clone. Multiple Jeddies.

ML: What does art give you that nothing else can?

JD: Zouk, hula, baking, writing, art… each gives me something different—community, release, meditation, processing. Sometimes my head is so full, and art lets me take what's swirling inside, process it, and release it. Onto a page. In a dance class. Through a piece of art. It’s like spring cleaning for the soul. And it connects me to others—it opens doors to conversations I wouldn’t have otherwise.