Minidoka No. 5 (442nd), Roger Shimomura
Minidoka No. 5 (442nd), Roger Shimomura
While at the Tacoma Art Museum I saw this piece by Roger Shimomura, an artist from Seattle, entitled Minidoka No. 5 (442nd). According to the corresponding information it was created in a pop art style, a movement most known for being pioneered by Andy Warhol, and was created to confront the stereotypes that are associated with Asian Americans. It also serves as a piece to pay tribute to the Japanese American men who were in the U.S. military during World War 2, in spite of being prisoners due to their ancestry.
I guess I just wanted to make a post about this piece because it was my personal favorite that I saw at the art museum that day. I really loved how it specifically used the pop art style to convey its message, considering the works by Andy Warhol utilized American iconography like Campbell’s Soup and Marilyn Monroe; two things that are associated with dominant American culture in the 20th century. I also noticed that, in comparison with the Marilyn Monroe piece by Warhol, the men represented in each of the portraits are distinct, whereas the Monroe piece only shows the same picture of her over and over again, creating this narcissistic and homogenous effect. The Monroe piece was made soon after her death to memorialize her, but again through Warhol’s lense it seems narcissistic and self serving. This piece actually memorializes these men, while also subverting the stereotypes of the Japanese army, and Japanese men during World War 2.
I’m not really a great art critic, but this piece appealed to me due to the fact that it borrows from a style that has become iconic and ingrained in the American consciousness for years, despite the fact of it being glorified navel gazing and mostly devoid of any real meaning in my opinion, and makes it into something deeply personal and meaningful. Anyways, my opinions on Andy Warhol aside, I’m glad I was fortunate enough to see this piece in person, especially considering the reading this week.