“What we inherit” is a visual exploration of legacy, memory and identity through the artifacts my grandparents left behind in Japan. Using my grandfather’s scrapbooks from the 1930-50s and my grandmother’s exquisite silk kimonos, I create photographic montages that reflect how memory is preserved, forgotten and reinterpreted across generations. The materials used are deeply personal and a part of a larger history of postwar Japan, westernizations and family resilience. Since moving to New York in 2017, the project has become a way to bridge my own distance with Japan, while introducing my young daughters to their heritage. With the support of the Lucie Scholarship, I will strengthen the narrative and expand its accessibility. The start and end date of the project is flexible and I imagine it would span over a period of 12-18 months. My goals are to: 1) translate all project material into Japanese so the world can be shared in my home as cross-culture work created by an artist residing abroad; 2) create short diary entries/text that accompany each image that narrate the details and emotions embedded in them; 3) experiment with new printing techniques with a Japanese printer that specialize in washi paper; 4) promote it through Japanese and Asian cultural associations; 5) bring the project to fine art galleries.
