The exhibition 'Stolen Heirlooms' by Kellen Hatanaka reflects on the Japanese-Canadian experience during WWII, particularly focusing on the internment of families. Using materials like paper, wire, and washi tape, Hatanaka recreates important possessions that were lost and addresses the emotional turmoil of anger, grief, and unease within affected communities. He expands the definition of heirlooms to incorporate the painful legacy of generational trauma, challenging audiences to reconsider their understanding of legacy and the memories of those who lived through displacement, especially in Alberta's historical context of incarceration and forced labor.
"This body of work is inspired by my great grandmother's story of having to leave behind her shamisen, a traditional Japanese string instrument, when she was forced to leave her home..."
"Stolen Heirlooms calls for unpacking the complexities of collective remembering, for those impacted and those who participate more passively..."
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