Transbordering: Migration and Art Across Wakayama and the U.S.A.

Wakayama Prefecture is well known as an “imin-ken” or an “emigrant prefecture” having the sixth largest number of overseas emigrants in Japan. The descendants of those who crossed the Pacific Ocean in pursuit of opportunities in new lands since the Meiji Era (1868–1912) still reside all around the world. Commemorating the 2nd Wakayama Kenjinkai Meeting scheduled for October 2023, the Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama sheds light on our prefecture’s emigration history to the United States by expanding upon the research on prewar artists that we have cultivated so far.

This exhibition places emphasis on the artistic endeavors of individuals on the West Coast of the United States. Especially in California, many who traversed the Pacific lived as immigrants, engaging in vibrant artistic pursuits. Among them, we are proud to introduce Tokio Ueyama (1889–1954), a painter hailing from present-day Aridagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture, as a Wakayama-related artist for the first time in his home prefecture. We will showcase the multifaceted artistic accomplishments surrounding him, along with previously unrevealed works and materials.

The West Coast also bears witness the history of Japanese Americans’ internment following the outbreak of the war between the United States and Japan. However, even amid the confines of barbed wire, these individuals engaged in a wide range of creative endeavors and found solace even within the internment camps. In collaboration with esteemed institutions like the Japanese American National Museum, this exhibition revisits the narrative of migration and art from both sides of the border.