Mutsumi Tsuda – Looking at the impact of the war on people’s lives:
For example people from the same era: her grandfather (Japan) and Oppenheimer (USA), and the long term impact of the war on the descendants of Japanese immigrants in the French Pacific colony of New-Caledonia. After Pearl Harbour, Japanese immigrants on this island were arrested, their properties confiscated and sent to concentration camps. After the war, they were forcibly repatriated to Japan, leaving their local wives and children behind.

Tsuda’s work is based on interviews with the children and grandchildren of these repatriated Japanese. Although these Japanese New Caledonians have kept their surname, most don’t know how to speak Japanese and have no contact with their Japanese fathers, grandfathers and relatives.

One Day in Hiroshima
Since 1998, I have regularly visited Hiroshima and spend a great deal of my time in the Peace Memorial Park. A few days prior to the annual commemoration ceremony, I have often sat on a bench in the park watching blankly at people busily preparing the ceremony.

Started in 1947 by the City of Hiroshima, this annual commemoration ceremony aims to relate and preserve people's memory of what had happened to Hiroshima 60 years ago and, at the same time encouraging peace in the world. This ceremony has became very popular and attracted thousands and thousands of visitors from other regions of Japan and overseas. On 6 August every year, the Peace Memorial Park is full of people. Although the areas around the Peace Memorial Park are bustling with activities, outside these areas, life goes on as usual.

Before the A-bombing, the areas around the Park were the downtown. But after the bombing, everything was gone in a twinkle.

I was walking and walking on a disappeared town, a big grave without tombs. Where native trees once were, new trees donated by people and organisations from all over Japan are now growing and creating beautiful shades for passer bys.

Mutsumi Tsuda
June 2005

Group Exhibitions