2018
A NATION FOLLOWS WHERE IT LEADS
Unique c-print photograms (American flag, sunlight, artist's breath)
Print: 30 in. x various lengths
A Nation Follows Where It Leads #1
Unique c-print photograms (American flag, sunlight, artist's breath), wooden frame
37 × 75 in.
A Nation Follows Where It Leads stands as a poignant C-print photogram, capturing the essence of an American flag exposed on a significant day — June 14th, a dual commemoration of US Flag Day and President Trump's birthday. This artistic endeavor emerged as a response to the convergence of these symbolic dates, intertwining national symbolism with historical resonance.
This piece draws its name from Minna Irving's 1918 poem, "Betsy's Battles Flag," a stirring verse that found its way into elementary school curricula by 1946. The poem's evocative last stanza, speaking of a nation's fervor, sacrifice, and allegiance to the flag, resonates through the passage of time.
A Nation Follows Where It Leads emerges as a follow-up piece to Infertile American Dream, resonating deeply with the discovery that President Trump's birthday coincided with the US national Flag Day. Driven by this synchronicity, I acquired my first US flag, utilizing it in the creation of this artwork. Exposed through the C-print process under the sunlight of June 14, 2018, this piece crystallizes the fusion of historical significance and contemporary socio-political undertones.
This piece serves as a testament to the intersection of history, symbolism, and personal reflection. It encapsulates a moment of convergence, where the threads of national identity, political symbolism, and historical legacy intersect. Through the medium of photography and the symbolism of the American flag, "Last Flag Flying" prompts contemplation on allegiance, sacrifice, and the evolving narrative of patriotism in a complex socio-political landscape.
By leveraging art as a medium for reflection and dialogue, this artwork invites you to reconsider the significance and symbolism embedded within the flag, the historical context of patriotic sentiments, and the multifaceted narratives that define a nation's identity.
2018
A NATION FOLLOWS WHERE IT LEADS
Unique c-print photograms (American flag, sunlight, artist's breath)
Print: 30 in. x various lengths
A Nation Follows Where It Leads #1
Unique c-print photograms (American flag, sunlight, artist's breath), wooden frame
37 × 75 in.
A Nation Follows Where It Leads stands as a poignant C-print photogram, capturing the essence of an American flag exposed on a significant day — June 14th, a dual commemoration of US Flag Day and President Trump's birthday. This artistic endeavor emerged as a response to the convergence of these symbolic dates, intertwining national symbolism with historical resonance.
This piece draws its name from Minna Irving's 1918 poem, "Betsy's Battles Flag," a stirring verse that found its way into elementary school curricula by 1946. The poem's evocative last stanza, speaking of a nation's fervor, sacrifice, and allegiance to the flag, resonates through the passage of time.
A Nation Follows Where It Leads emerges as a follow-up piece to Infertile American Dream, resonating deeply with the discovery that President Trump's birthday coincided with the US national Flag Day. Driven by this synchronicity, I acquired my first US flag, utilizing it in the creation of this artwork. Exposed through the C-print process under the sunlight of June 14, 2018, this piece crystallizes the fusion of historical significance and contemporary socio-political undertones.
This piece serves as a testament to the intersection of history, symbolism, and personal reflection. It encapsulates a moment of convergence, where the threads of national identity, political symbolism, and historical legacy intersect. Through the medium of photography and the symbolism of the American flag, "Last Flag Flying" prompts contemplation on allegiance, sacrifice, and the evolving narrative of patriotism in a complex socio-political landscape.
By leveraging art as a medium for reflection and dialogue, this artwork invites you to reconsider the significance and symbolism embedded within the flag, the historical context of patriotic sentiments, and the multifaceted narratives that define a nation's identity.
© 2023 by Kei Ito.
Created on Editor X.
Sungazing
2015 - Ongoing
108 of 8”x10” prints, Scroll: 12” x 150’ to 220’ depending on the edition
On August 6th 1945, at 8:15 AM, my grandfather witnessed a great tragedy that destroyed nearly everything in Hiroshima. He survived the bombing, yet he lost many of his family members from the explosion and radiation poisoning. As an activist and author, my grandfather fought against the use of nuclear weaponry throughout his life, until he too passed away from cancer when I was ten years old. I remember him saying that day in Hiroshima was like hundreds of suns lighting up the sky.
In order to express the connection between the sun and my family history, I have created 108 letter size prints and a 200 foot long scroll, made by exposing Type-C photographic paper to sunlight. The pattern on the prints/scroll corresponds to my breath. In a darkened room, I pulled the paper in front of a small aperture to expose it to the sun while inhaling, and paused when exhaling. I repeated this action until I breathed 108 times. 108 is a number with ritual significance in Japanese Buddhism; to mark the Japanese New Year, bells toll 108 times, ridding us of our evil passions and desires, and purifying our souls.
If the black parts of the print remind you of a shadow, it is the shadow of my breath, which is itself a registration of my life, a life I share with and owe to my grandfather. The mark of the atomic blast upon his life and upon his breath was passed on to me, and you can see it as the shadow of this print.