|
Kaneshiro, Lauren
Hello! My name is Lauren Kaneshiro, and I am from Gardena, California. I would consider myself an artist since 2015 because that is when I first started creating projects with photography. Photography is my main media form, but I also love painting, drawing, and ceramics. Typically, my subject matter is food or inanimate objects and I use those in self-portraiture to convey a certain topic. For example, for the photo I submitted into this show, I created origami flowers of Black Eyed Susan in response to the anti-Asian hate crimes that have occurred during the pandemic. With some research I discovered that Black Eyed Susan represent justice and symbolize motivation and encouragement. This is only the beginning of a larger project where I plan to create a flower for each case reported, which is about 6,600 (and many more undocumented) from March 2020 – March 2021. I chose to make the flowers out of origami paper because it reflects my cultural heritage. I am a 4th generation Japanese American and for me, origami was what made me feel connected to my Japanese roots. My Grandmother taught me how to make a crane and she bought me books on how to make animals, flowers, and boxes. My definition of cultural heritage is something you create or eat or even think and do, that brings you back to your original roots.
Website: laurenkaneshiro.com
Instagram: @lykphotography
Website: laurenkaneshiro.com
Instagram: @lykphotography
|
Justice, 2021
Origami paper
14" × 18.5"
Origami paper
14" × 18.5"
Ku, MaeJean
|
Wine and Dine, 2021
Acrylic on Canvas
16" x 30"
Acrylic on Canvas
16" x 30"
Sushi Platter, 2021
Acrylic paint
12 × 24 inches
Acrylic paint
12 × 24 inches
Lee, Jung-Ji "Masa"
Artist Statement:
Kondomozo and Ubume are two characters that I invented. They serves as my surrogate self, a synthesis of Korean and Japanese cultures, a metaphor for the meeting of opposites, and the border that separates them. While one may interpret this characters as a reflection of a variety of ideas and aesthetics particular to Asian experiences and identities, Kondomozo and Ubume are primarily a response to the racism I faced as a bi-racial person. I wanted to create a creature who is culturally flexible and who personifies self-acceptance.
The universe that Kondomozo and Ubume inhabit is constructed from conscious and subconscious drawings, doodles, text and maps. The palette is inspired by cave paintings. Kondomozo and Ubume's simple shape is repeated and juxtaposed against a chaotic, drawn environment. Kondomozo and Ubume act as a smooth-skinned, nearly-featurless guide, in a wildly unpredictable and marred universe.
I believe that everyone perceives themselves—in some way—as a minority of sorts. It is my hope that Kondomozo and Ubume may act as an ambassador of “Other-ness” and that people of all backgrounds will feel at home with them, or curious about them.
Education
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Artist Contact Information:
Los Angeles Artist Association member
Facebook: @konodamazo
Instagram: @konodamazo
Etsy: Konodamazo Inc.
Kondomozo and Ubume are two characters that I invented. They serves as my surrogate self, a synthesis of Korean and Japanese cultures, a metaphor for the meeting of opposites, and the border that separates them. While one may interpret this characters as a reflection of a variety of ideas and aesthetics particular to Asian experiences and identities, Kondomozo and Ubume are primarily a response to the racism I faced as a bi-racial person. I wanted to create a creature who is culturally flexible and who personifies self-acceptance.
The universe that Kondomozo and Ubume inhabit is constructed from conscious and subconscious drawings, doodles, text and maps. The palette is inspired by cave paintings. Kondomozo and Ubume's simple shape is repeated and juxtaposed against a chaotic, drawn environment. Kondomozo and Ubume act as a smooth-skinned, nearly-featurless guide, in a wildly unpredictable and marred universe.
I believe that everyone perceives themselves—in some way—as a minority of sorts. It is my hope that Kondomozo and Ubume may act as an ambassador of “Other-ness” and that people of all backgrounds will feel at home with them, or curious about them.
Education
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Artist Contact Information:
Los Angeles Artist Association member
Facebook: @konodamazo
Instagram: @konodamazo
Etsy: Konodamazo Inc.
k.u.m.s.m., 2021
Mixed media on paper
12 × 12 inches
Mixed media on paper
12 × 12 inches
k.u.m.s.m., 2021
Mixed media on paper
22 × 22 inches
Mixed media on paper
22 × 22 inches
|
|
k.i.b.
Mixed media sculpture
12 × 5 × 5 inches
Mixed media sculpture
12 × 5 × 5 inches
|
|
c.u.c., 2021
Mixed media sculpture
6 × 6 × 6 inches
Mixed media sculpture
6 × 6 × 6 inches
untitled, 2021
Water color on paper
6 × 9 inches
Water color on paper
6 × 9 inches
Mishima, Noboru (Bob)
Self-introduction:
My name is Noboru Mishima. I was born in Osaka, Japan, in the middle of the 20th century. I started drawing with crayons when I was child. My mother put me in art classes for adults after school hour because nobody could take care of me at home until she could get home. A couple of my oil paintings were sold out in LA more than 10 years ago. However, I still take art classes to refresh myself and establish my style. I have been fascinated by natural colors, so recently I am curious, “How does color influence human emotion?”
About my submissions:
Against COVID-19: We are in the pandemic now. I want to focus on tools that protect us against the virus.
RIN-NE＿輪廻: I was born with a couple of health problems. Therefore, my parents tried so hard to keep me healthy. They also looked for anything that would improve health. Finally, they believed in one kind of Buddhism. Now it helps my life. I have respected it for my parents to believe in it. Whenever I have encountered the hardship, I thought that human’s fate is related to one’s reincarnation which builds on the core of human life. I do not know where my DNA comes from and where it goes. However, the present circumstances surrounding me could be part of my universal fate. This concept leads me this artwork.
ROAD: When I look at my lifestyle in this country, I act very much in a Japanese way. However, my friends said my thinking process is not Japanese. I miss Japanese culture very much, so I incorporate my hobbies into my lifestyle. The road 道 is the fundamental education system as the admonishing way of people in Japan. Today many Japanese women love flower arrangement and tea ceremony to learn manners. I enjoy walking on the trail to the Observatory, drinking green tea, and making paper crafts. I have learned KENDO for a couple of years now, at the GVJCI.
I hope that many people enjoy Japanese culture and philosophy through the GVJCI Online Art Show. Then, I hope this is the starting point for somebody to enjoy and learn about Japanese culture in their everyday lives.
My name is Noboru Mishima. I was born in Osaka, Japan, in the middle of the 20th century. I started drawing with crayons when I was child. My mother put me in art classes for adults after school hour because nobody could take care of me at home until she could get home. A couple of my oil paintings were sold out in LA more than 10 years ago. However, I still take art classes to refresh myself and establish my style. I have been fascinated by natural colors, so recently I am curious, “How does color influence human emotion?”
About my submissions:
Against COVID-19: We are in the pandemic now. I want to focus on tools that protect us against the virus.
RIN-NE＿輪廻: I was born with a couple of health problems. Therefore, my parents tried so hard to keep me healthy. They also looked for anything that would improve health. Finally, they believed in one kind of Buddhism. Now it helps my life. I have respected it for my parents to believe in it. Whenever I have encountered the hardship, I thought that human’s fate is related to one’s reincarnation which builds on the core of human life. I do not know where my DNA comes from and where it goes. However, the present circumstances surrounding me could be part of my universal fate. This concept leads me this artwork.
ROAD: When I look at my lifestyle in this country, I act very much in a Japanese way. However, my friends said my thinking process is not Japanese. I miss Japanese culture very much, so I incorporate my hobbies into my lifestyle. The road 道 is the fundamental education system as the admonishing way of people in Japan. Today many Japanese women love flower arrangement and tea ceremony to learn manners. I enjoy walking on the trail to the Observatory, drinking green tea, and making paper crafts. I have learned KENDO for a couple of years now, at the GVJCI.
I hope that many people enjoy Japanese culture and philosophy through the GVJCI Online Art Show. Then, I hope this is the starting point for somebody to enjoy and learn about Japanese culture in their everyday lives.
Road, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 cm × 50.8cm
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 cm × 50.8cm
Against COVID-19, 2021
Acrylic on paper
40.5 cm × 31.7 cm
Acrylic on paper
40.5 cm × 31.7 cm
RIN-NE, 2021
Watercolor on paper
41.6 cm × 57.0 cm
Watercolor on paper
41.6 cm × 57.0 cm