Pirated: a post asian perspective

Artists:   Kathy Aoki  Michael Arcega  Curtis Choy  Derek Chung  Gloria G. Galang  Donna Keiko Ozawa  Indigo Som  Stephanie Syjuco thuy tran  Scott Tsuchitani Mel Vera Cruz  Lauren M. Wong  |   About Pirated Curators Main

KATHY AOKI

Bio

KATHY AOKI grew up in Natick, a Boston suburb. She attended U.C. Berkeley, followed by two years at Washington University in St. Louis for an MFA in Printmaking. Currently Katherine lives in the Silicon Valley where she is an assistant professor at Santa Clara University. Her studio is located in San Jose. Past awards include fellowships from Kala (1995) and the MacDowell Colony (2001). She has also been awarded an artist's residency at Headlands Center for the Arts. Her work can be found in major collections across the U.S., such as SFMOMA, the Harvard University Art Museums, and the New York Public Library. See more of her work at kaoki.com

Project Statement I made this piece specifically for the Pirated exhibition. The boat in the foreground is based on anonymous Japanese woodcuts showing Commodore Perry's boats (aka the 'black ships') entering Tokyo bay in 1853. The original prints featured demonic smoke coming from the smokestack and other symbols of evil decorating the boats of the intruders. I borrowed this evil invader concept, but adapted the imagery to create an environment for characters I've used in other artwork.

You're Mine! (detail), 2005, mixed media on wood, approx. 48" x 48" Click thumbnail to view larger image.