“The Working Heritage” by the artist Killin Hatanaka

A group of sculptures that represent the losses that the Japanese Canadians suffer during World War II by a multidisciplinary artist Keelin Hatanaka (Previously appeared here). Currently in Ontario, Hatanaka is famous for creating vibrant panels and metaphorical drawings that celebrate sports, design, history and culture. His work often includes ethnic, traditions and heritage issues of the nuances of the Canadian Japanese experience. In “stolen legacy”, Hatanaka depends on the date of Japanese detention in Canada. Starting in 1942, 22,000 Japanese origin living along the coast of the British Columbia were removed by force from their homes. They were given a very short notice and were only allowed to take bags or two bags. As such, she left many of their possessions behind them. Through these works, Hatanaka tries to struggle with the loss that his ancestors carry and others:

“This group of work is inspired by the great story of my grandmother of having to leave her behind, and it is a traditional Japanese thread, when she was forced to leave her home with my grandmother and my great grandfather. He made me wonder what others lost, and if these elements are still somewhere, then the concept of collective loss is complicated.

Hatanaka depicts imaginary elements bearing a cultural or emotional value. The concept of inheritance is used for a parallel drawing between the death of physical bodies and the death of inherited shock across generations of Japanese Canadians.