2023
R_ST IN PEACE:
LITTLE BOY (MURAL)
Site specific mural installation (iron infused paint, rust)
28 ft. 5 in. x 9 ft. 6 in.
R_st in Peace: Little Boy is a series of paintings employing iron-infused pigment, a transformative medium that undergoes a deliberate process of oxidation and rusting. The artwork takes form as a simplified rendition of the historical weapon, Little Boy, the inaugural atomic bomb utilized in warfare, its shape derived from meticulous measurements of the bomb's longest and shortest sides.
Through the utilization of iron-infused pigment, metal emerges as a potent symbol within my artistic lexicon—an embodiment of man-made creations, culture, and societal constructs, while evoking a palpable connection to humanity's ancient past. The gradual process of oxidation inherent in the paint reflects the passage of time and transformation, embodying a metaphor for both the temporal nature of human endeavors and the inevitable decay that accompanies progress.
As the painting continues its oxidization journey, it invites contemplation on visions of desolate landscapes and abandoned remnants—an evocation of once-thriving architectures and technologies left to ruin. These specters echo abandoned sites scattered throughout the American Midwest, forsaken due to technological advancements or geopolitical treaties. Alternatively, they invoke haunting scenes of post-apocalyptic abandonment, where lingering radiation renders lands uninhabitable and structures crumble into dilapidation.
R_st in Peace: Little Boy serves as a visual exploration, prompting reflection on the fragility of human constructs, the impermanence of societal edifices, and the haunting echoes of abandonment and decay. Its evolving state during exhibition summons narratives of forsaken histories and speculative futures, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of human creations amidst the relentless passage of time.
2023
R_ST IN PEACE:
LITTLE BOY (MURAL)
Site specific mural installation (iron infused paint, rust)
28 ft. 5 in. x 9 ft. 6 in.
R_st in Peace: Little Boy is a series of paintings employing iron-infused pigment, a transformative medium that undergoes a deliberate process of oxidation and rusting. The artwork takes form as a simplified rendition of the historical weapon, Little Boy, the inaugural atomic bomb utilized in warfare, its shape derived from meticulous measurements of the bomb's longest and shortest sides.
Through the utilization of iron-infused pigment, metal emerges as a potent symbol within my artistic lexicon—an embodiment of man-made creations, culture, and societal constructs, while evoking a palpable connection to humanity's ancient past. The gradual process of oxidation inherent in the paint reflects the passage of time and transformation, embodying a metaphor for both the temporal nature of human endeavors and the inevitable decay that accompanies progress.
As the painting continues its oxidization journey, it invites contemplation on visions of desolate landscapes and abandoned remnants—an evocation of once-thriving architectures and technologies left to ruin. These specters echo abandoned sites scattered throughout the American Midwest, forsaken due to technological advancements or geopolitical treaties. Alternatively, they invoke haunting scenes of post-apocalyptic abandonment, where lingering radiation renders lands uninhabitable and structures crumble into dilapidation.
R_st in Peace: Little Boy serves as a visual exploration, prompting reflection on the fragility of human constructs, the impermanence of societal edifices, and the haunting echoes of abandonment and decay. Its evolving state during exhibition summons narratives of forsaken histories and speculative futures, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of human creations amidst the relentless passage of time.
© 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.