Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Mine Okubo

Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo is an exhibition that reintroduces three pioneering Japanese American artists of the pre–World War II generations. The exhibition features over ninety works by the artists, exploring their deep connections with each other for the first time. The exhibition spans three chronological sections, showcasing pre–World War II portraiture, landscapes, and still lifes, as well as postwar abstractions. The book published in conjunction with the exhibition shifts the spotlight from the injustice and tragedy of Japanese American incarceration to a broader picture of the American experience through the compelling lives and artworks of these women of Japanese descent.

Format: Hardback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

This extraordinary exhibition presents a remarkable revival of three pioneering Japanese American artists of the pre-World War II generations. Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo brings together an impressive collection of over ninety artworks by these visionary artists, who have, despite their long and illustrious careers, largely been overlooked in traditional American art history. This groundbreaking exhibition offers a fresh perspective on their work, exploring their profound connections for the first time.

The exhibition is structured into three chronological sections, each shedding light on the artistic journey of these artists from the 1920s to the 1990s. Faces & Communities presents a captivating array of pre-World War II portraiture and figurative works, while Belongings & (dis)Locations showcases breathtaking landscapes and still lifes from the prewar and wartime periods. The final section, Explorations & Rediscoveries, showcases postwar abstractions.

Pictures of Belonging emphasizes the diverse and multifaceted oeuvres of Hayakawa, Hibi, and Okubo, spanning eight decades and four states. It highlights the vibrant communities in which these trailblazing artists thrived before, during, and after World War II, showcasing their enduring contributions to American art.

In conjunction with the exhibition, a comprehensive book titled Pictures of Belonging has been published, offering a deeper exploration of these artists' lives and artworks. This book shifts the focus from the injustice and tragedy of Japanese American incarceration to a broader understanding of the American experience through the compelling and diverse narratives of these women of Japanese descent.

The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Japanese American National Museum, University of California Press, and with support from the Terra Foundation for American Art and the National Endowment for the Arts. It is scheduled to open on February 24, 2023, and promises to be a captivating journey into the artistic legacy of these remarkable artists.

Weight: 1464g
Dimension: 407 x 269 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520394674