Art, Identity, and Alternate Worlds: A Conversation with Pono Asuncion

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

In today’s episode, we speak with Pono Asuncion, an interdisciplinary artist, storyteller, illustrator, and culture bearer. Drawing inspiration from childhood memories and ancestral roots, Pono’s art explores themes of alternate worlds, the extension of family lineage beyond this sphere, and the significance of recovering and honoring one’s history and identity.

Pulling on inspiration from systemic barriers around us and how the disruption of colonialism affects the passage of knowledge, Pono takes us on a journey through their creative process. We learn how they build rich, layered visual experiments using an eclectic mix of materials from watercolors, acrylic, ink, markers, highlighters, to tape, cardboard, and even black and white pieces.

Through their unique approach to color and texture, Pono invites us to imagine what other realms and narratives might emerge if we reconnect with our past. Join us in this powerful conversation about the intersections of art, identity, and alternate worlds.