The Art of Transformation

After graduating from UOG with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and earning her Master’s degree through UOG’s partnership program with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Taitano jumped right into the frontlines of community care. But even as she worked in service to others, Taitano continued to do her art, and in 2018, she officially launched a creative project that had long been under construction.

“More Art x Less War came together as I evolved in creating mixed media design and graphic art. It really was a way to alchemize a lot of the thoughts I had of everyday conflict in the world,” Taitano explains.

As a practicing social worker who specializes in mental health and human rights advocacy and has spent nearly a decade in crisis and trauma services, Taitano recognizes how being exposed to different societal and systemic issues has influenced her art. 

“The field really does expose you to the different realities of society, and it helps fuel a lot of the drive, a lot of the passion and emotion that comes with the art,” Taitano says. “It fuels the fire behind creating new ideas, new ways of seeing things, new ways of taking the ugly and using parts of it to turn the truth into inspirations of action.”

The concept of transformation and striving to overcome conflict through purposeful change became a defining pillar for the brand. “It was inspired by living in a world of half destruction, half creativity, with the message being that what we destruct, we can create, and what we create, we can also destruct.” 

For Taitano, the power lies in choosing creation.

Rooted in Pacific Heritage

Another integral aspect of More Art x Less War is the homage it pays to Pacific culture and identity. Taitano, who is of CHamoru, Palauan, and Ulithian descent and is originally from Saipan and Guam, draws heavily from her multicultural background and the belief that all Pacific Islanders are connected. 

“We’re all one people in the end, despite years of navigation, colonization, and expansive global migration. We’re still here,” Taitano says. 

The importance of Oceanic connection is visible in the designs that appear on More Art x Less War’s range of products, from the latte stones and dolphin patterns that adorn sweatshirts and art prints, to the guasåli flowers that take the form of stickers and carved jewelry pieces. 

These recurring symbols and motifs are significant across the Pacific, and Taitano hopes that by incorporating them into her art, they serve as a visual reminder of indigenous unity and shared identity.

The Village Behind the Vision

Despite being the brand’s founder and main creative force, Taitano is quick to share that its success is the result of collaboration and a solid network of love and support.

“I may be the one with all the ideas, especially at three in the morning,” she laughs, “but More Art x Less War wouldn’t be possible without the people around me.” Taitano says that her immediate family provides a lot of the encouragement that allows her to continue doing her work. She also receives a considerable amount of support from her partner, Kaiana San Nicolas, who is the creator behind another local lifestyle brand, Makmåta Tribe. The two often collaborate on each other’s creative endeavors and help keep up the websites and social media pages for their respective small businesses.  

“Feels like a Gift”

As More Art x Less War continues going strong, Taitano admits that time remains the biggest challenge for her, especially when she has countless ideas for her next creation but not enough hours in the day to push them out. But Taitano views the challenge as an opportunity to keep doing what she loves and is grateful when her art resonates with others.

 

“The most rewarding part is the connection that people feel when they admire the work and reach out to let me know that they feel connected to a lot of what I am doing,” Taitano says. “I hope everything feels like a gift.”

For more information on More Art x Less War or to explore the brand’s current products, visit www.moreartxlesswar.com or @moreartxlesswar on Instagram and TikTok.