Doris Duke's Shangri La: Center for Islamic Arts and Cultures, Honolulu, HI

Transition from House to Museum

Doris Duke, a wealthy socialite born in 1912, built a home, Shangri La, in Hawai'i in the 1930s with the intention of showcasing art from the Islamic world, a growing passion of Duke's stemming from travels in the region during her honeymoon. The majority of decorative arts, furniture, and interiors within the home are antiquities (even dating back to the 16th century) acquired from various dealers, although some pieces were commissioned specifically for the site. Duke continued adding to her collection and made modifications to Shangri La as needed to accommodate new installations. Shangri La was not her primary residence, but it was used as a home until the time of her death in 1993. Duke's will called for the formation of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art to own and manage the Shangri La property and collections with the mission to “promote the study and understanding of Middle Eastern Art and Culture” (Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art). In 2002 Shangri La was first opened to the public. It is situated within a quiet neighborhood and today tours originate at the Honolulu Museum of Art. 

Interior courtyard, 

foyer is to the left behind the wooden screen 

History of Conservation at Shangri La

The Winterthur/ University of Delaware (Udel) Graduate Program in Art Conservation started working with Shangri La around 2008 to conduct large-scale conservation of various painted surfaces in the historic structures. These projects were divided into multiple phases completed by graduate interns, supervised by Udel faculty, over various summers. 

In 2012 Kent Severson was hired as the first full-time conservator for Shangri La. 

Summer Project 2015

I was offered the chance to work on a suite of architectural elements that had not yet been treated. Richard Wolbers helped plan the treatment protocol prior to arrival in Hawai'i based on samples sent from Kent Severson. 

The foyer ceiling, living room ceiling, and living room doors were all commissioned by Doris Duke specifically for Shangri La in the 1930s. They were produced by the Rene Martin studio in Morocco. 

Image of the foyer ceiling illuminated at night


The project included a material investigation of all three elements using resources in the Scientific Analysis and Research Laboratory at the Winterthur Museum. Documentation, paint consolidation, and loss compensation tests, were conducted on site at Shangri La on the foyer ceiling and living room doors. 

Living room doors

View of the "Playhouse"

During my time on site I had the privilege of staying in the "Playhouse" on the property. My work also coincided with a research visit by University of Michigan PhD candidate in Art History, Ashley Miller, who was studying the French influence on Moroccan design and the studio of Rene Martin. Another graduate conservation fellow from UCLA was also on site treating a mosaic installation on the lanai.  Dynamic discussions with colleagues greatly enhanced my experience. I am grateful to Richard Wolbers who supervised this project. 

Some of my favorite memories of Hawai'i are climbing the pillboxes at Koko head crater, turtle watching on the North Shore, snorkling in Maui, and enjoying poi and shave ice (not at the same time) with staff members from Shangri La. 

I made it to the top of Koko Head after a muddy start with early morning rains at 5am. 

Laniakea or "turtle" beach is a favorite sunning spot for the Honu or green sea turtle. There is usually a conservationist (someone who works to protect and preserve the environment, not works of art) on hand to provide information and enforce a safe viewing distance of the turtles. 

Typical sunset at Kaimana Beach. 

All images related to this project are presented here courtesy of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, Honolulu, Hawai'i

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