2023
EACH TOLLING SUN
Unique c-print photogram (hammered steel disk, sunlight artist's breath), sledge hammer, hammered steel disk, video projection with 2-channel audio.
Installation: Various ( 108 of 20 x 21 in. prints, a 8 x 35 x 3.5 in. sledge hammer, a 18 in. diameter steel disk, and a 1hr 36min 39 sec video and audio
Each Tolling Sun is a poignant and thought-provoking installation by acclaimed artist Kei Ito, where he meticulously engages with the legacy of nuclear tragedy and symbolism in a striking new exhibit. On view at the Hilliard Art Museum from July 28, 2023 to February 24, 2024, this immersive showcase invites viewers to contemplate the profound impact of nuclear warfare through a series of evocative artworks.
At the heart of the exhibit lies a compelling centerpiece—a circular metal sheet distorted by Ito's deliberate strikes with a sledgehammer, totaling 108 blows. Surrounding this centerpiece are 108 vivid photogram prints, each capturing a progression of orange, red, and yellow circles against stark black or red backgrounds. These circles, akin to the transformed metal, embody a symbolic journey through 108 iterations, culminating in a powerful visual narrative.
Rooted in personal history, this body of work traces back to Ito's grandfather, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. His grandfather's legacy as an anti-nuclear activist profoundly influences Ito's artistic expression, echoing a fervent plea for peace amidst the haunting memories of past devastation. For Ito, the sun emerges as a profound symbol, signifying both life and destruction. This dichotomy forms the crux of his artistic exploration, encapsulating the overwhelming power and inevitable consequences associated with nuclear weaponry.
Ito's frustration with contemporary nuclear tensions is palpable in his deliberate strikes upon the metal plate, symbolizing a call for global harmony and disarmament. The series of circles exhibited in the gallery space distill this frustration into representations of 108 suns, speaking volumes about Ito's vision and mission.
The deliberate exposure of photographic paper to sunlight between strikes captures the gradual decay and transformation of the metal—a process steeped in the significance of the number 108 in Japanese Buddhism, symbolizing purification and renewal.
Beyond the confines of the gallery, Ito's boundary-blurring installation extends to video and sound elements, complemented by a monumental 160 ft long banner. This expansive artwork invites contemplation on the delicate balance between life and death, past and future, and our place within this intricate narrative.
In a compelling convergence, the exhibit challenges viewers to reevaluate our global nuclear landscape, inviting a deeper examination of objects as witnesses, embodying profound impressions of the tumultuous history they carry."
- Exhibition text
2023
EACH TOLLING SUN
Unique c-print photogram (hammered steel disk, sunlight artist's breath), sledge hammer, hammered steel disk, video projection with 2-channel audio.
Installation: Various ( 108 of 20 x 21 in. prints, a 8 x 35 x 3.5 in. sledge hammer, a 18 in. diameter steel disk, and a 1hr 36min 39 sec video and audio
Each Tolling Sun is a poignant and thought-provoking installation by acclaimed artist Kei Ito, where he meticulously engages with the legacy of nuclear tragedy and symbolism in a striking new exhibit. On view at the Hilliard Art Museum from July 28, 2023 to February 24, 2024, this immersive showcase invites viewers to contemplate the profound impact of nuclear warfare through a series of evocative artworks.
At the heart of the exhibit lies a compelling centerpiece—a circular metal sheet distorted by Ito's deliberate strikes with a sledgehammer, totaling 108 blows. Surrounding this centerpiece are 108 vivid photogram prints, each capturing a progression of orange, red, and yellow circles against stark black or red backgrounds. These circles, akin to the transformed metal, embody a symbolic journey through 108 iterations, culminating in a powerful visual narrative.
Rooted in personal history, this body of work traces back to Ito's grandfather, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. His grandfather's legacy as an anti-nuclear activist profoundly influences Ito's artistic expression, echoing a fervent plea for peace amidst the haunting memories of past devastation. For Ito, the sun emerges as a profound symbol, signifying both life and destruction. This dichotomy forms the crux of his artistic exploration, encapsulating the overwhelming power and inevitable consequences associated with nuclear weaponry.
Ito's frustration with contemporary nuclear tensions is palpable in his deliberate strikes upon the metal plate, symbolizing a call for global harmony and disarmament. The series of circles exhibited in the gallery space distill this frustration into representations of 108 suns, speaking volumes about Ito's vision and mission.
The deliberate exposure of photographic paper to sunlight between strikes captures the gradual decay and transformation of the metal—a process steeped in the significance of the number 108 in Japanese Buddhism, symbolizing purification and renewal.
Beyond the confines of the gallery, Ito's boundary-blurring installation extends to video and sound elements, complemented by a monumental 160 ft long banner. This expansive artwork invites contemplation on the delicate balance between life and death, past and future, and our place within this intricate narrative.
In a compelling convergence, the exhibit challenges viewers to reevaluate our global nuclear landscape, inviting a deeper examination of objects as witnesses, embodying profound impressions of the tumultuous history they carry.
"
- Exhibition text
© 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.