Artist drawing nuclear in the United States August 9 15:41

“The image of the Atomic Bomb Dome, which I had not been conscious of, suddenly

appeared in my drawings.

There is also a Japanese artist living in New York.

While the number of people who have experienced the atomic bombing is decreasing year by year, I am trying to convey the issues of nuclear weapons and war through the power of art to those who feel that it is a distant event.

(Ryo Tomita, Reporter, News Department)

Gaku Tsutaja

The name of the artist is “Gaku Tsutaja”.

You may be confused as to how to read it.

Gaku Tsutaya (47).

Born in Tokyo, after studying painting at a university in Tokyo, formed an art unit and presented works incorporating video and performance.

Since 2006, I have been working creatively in the United States.

She intentionally replaces the "ya" at the end of her name with "ja" in order to avoid giving a sense of nationality or gender.

Memories of the nuclear accident

Mr. Tsutaya has a history of making works on the theme of nuclear weapons.

In 2016, Mr. Tsutaya created a painting with the motif of the nuclear accident in Fukushima at the graduate school in New York State where he started attending.

Mr. Tsutaya was in the United States when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred.

The earthquake, the tsunami, and the nuclear accident were shown on TV, but he could not get in touch with his family and friends in Japan, and he feared that they would all disappear.

Five years later, I received a phone call from my father, a civil engineer engaged in reconstruction work in Fukushima, asking about the situation in Fukushima.

Raku Tsutaya:

“When I heard from my father that there was radioactive material in a black bag, that the bag was broken and buds were coming out, and wild boars were running around, I felt fear and atmosphere in 2011. But even more than that, I was quite shocked that I had forgotten about it.I had to

do my own research on Fukushima, where the effects of the nuclear accident continue even after five years have passed, and make a work of it. I thought you shouldn't."

The result is a work with a fantasy element, in which animals stranded in Fukushima discuss how to escape from a deserted place.

Suddenly, the Atomic Bomb Dome

It was when I was making another piece not long after the production of that piece.

The work he was creating was a story in which he depicted himself as a non-native bird, with his identity as a Japanese living in the United States.

At that time, an image suddenly appeared in my drawing.

It was a building shaped like the Atomic Bomb Dome, which I had never been conscious of until then.

Mr. Tsutaya:

“I drew a picture without thinking about anything, and then the building turned into a dome. As

I was researching the Atomic Bomb Dome, I realized that the nuclear accident and the atomic bombing were actually connected, so I started researching nuclear weapons.”

Mr. Tsutaya was absorbed in creating works on the theme of nuclear weapons as if being guided.

Tsutaya style "How to draw the nucleus"

In drawing nuclear weapons, Mr. Tsutaya started research to learn about nuclear issues, which he had little interest in until now.

Listen to testimonies of survivors.

We visited a museum exhibiting the bomber "Enola Gay" that dropped the atomic bomb, as well as facilities related to nuclear development.

We spoke with experts and researchers.

In order to create this work, I researched for about four years, including the fact that there are people in the United States who complain that they are suffering from radioactive contamination that occurred during nuclear development.

Then, in Otoshi (2020), Mr. Tsutaya presented 47 works by a unique method of publishing works related to nuclear weapons one by one on SNS every day.

Incorporating elements of satire, the cartoon-like illustrations depict nuclear history and lesser-known issues.

The development of the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project, the plutonium refining plant, the dropping of the atomic bomb by the US military, and the tragic image of Hiroshima after being bombed.

Appearing characters have their faces replaced with animals, insects, and so on.

Mr. Tsutaya explained the reason as follows.

Mr. Tsutaya:

I wanted people to pay attention to the part where I felt sorry for Japan because people were exposed to the atomic bomb, and it wasn't America's fault, no, it wasn't Japan's fault that attacked in the first place. I used animals and insects in order not to make people feel

like I'm in. I think you can understand that all the works are tragic at first glance, but first you're drawn in by the charm of the painting, and as you look at it, things get tough. I wanted to create a work in which people can understand what is happening little by little.

Even in the United States, where there is still a strong belief that the atomic bombing helped bring an early end to the war, Mr. Tsutaya's work has attracted interest, and solo exhibitions have been held in New York and other places.

Nuclear and war What art can do

Mr. Tsutaya's first solo exhibition in Japan is currently being held at the Maruki Art Museum in Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture.

In addition to paintings depicting the history of nuclear weapons, the exhibits include internment camps for Japanese Americans built throughout the United States during the Pacific War, and buildings recreating barracks built in Hiroshima and Nagasaki immediately after the atomic bombings. There is also a work in which animation images are projected onto the screen.

The whole space is designed so that you can feel the events that occurred during the war.

A visitor to the special exhibition:

“I thought it would be difficult for a Japanese person to talk about what the United States did while living in the United States. I thought it was amazing that you were talking about

A visitor to the special exhibition

“I was prepared to express sad things, but it was really interesting to see her mixed with comical and fantasy elements.Let’s investigate war and nuclear weapons. I felt like

Tsutaya believes that art can play a major role in getting people interested in nuclear weapons and war.

Mr. Tsutaya:

“I am also one of those who had no interest in war, so I can understand why you are not interested. I don't think there are many people who want to do something about war, but if

you actually look into it, you'll find that the history of war repeats itself. From a cultural perspective, I think it's very important to create works that make people think, 'Something interesting.'

I believe in curiosity.

"

First time in A-bombed Nagasaki

This time, Mr. Tsutaya visited the atomic bombed city of Nagasaki for the first time.

In an area about 7 kilometers away from the hypocenter of Nagasaki, I met so-called "experienced survivors."

Those who were not recognized as atomic bomb survivors because they were not within the atomic bombing areas designated by the government at the time the atomic bomb was dropped.

One of them is Mr. Tsurutake (85), who lives in the former Yagami Village in the eastern part of Nagasaki City.

He was eight years old when the atomic bomb was dropped while he was in his home.

Because the area is separated from the hypocenter by mountains, the heat rays from the atomic bomb did not reach the area, but the strong light and strong wind did.

After that, it is said that the so-called "black rain" containing ash, cinders, and radioactive materials fell.

Mr. Tsuru:

“I was wearing a white running shirt because it got dirty from rain and ash, but it turned completely black.”

Mr. Tsutaya:

“Some people say that black rain is sticky. How was it?”

Tsuru:

“I don’t even have the energy to check if it’s sticky.

After that, many people around Tsuru died young one after another, and his older sister also died at the age of 27.

Tsuru, who has been plagued by her poor health, has asked the government for relief, saying that it was because she took radioactive material into her body.

However, although the neighboring village, which was in the same village, is included in the A-bombed area, Tsuru-san's village, which is located on the other side of the mountain ridge, is not, and is still not recognized as an A-bomb survivor.

Mr. Tsurutake:

“We have held festivals and sports days together in the community, but I can’t accept that we are being separated based on whether or not we are in the A-bombed area. Anyway, I want to say that

Mr. Tsutaya listened intently.

He said that he strongly felt the need to pass on his memories by coming into contact with testimonies that he would not have known had he not come to the site.

Mr. Tsutaya:

“When you listen to the story and learn about the details, you can see more and more how the country responds to questions you have or don’t understand, so it feels like the fiction that has created the history of nuclear weapons is being revealed. The fact

that there are

still people who are not compensated is a problem that could happen to us, and if those voices are not heard, it may be repeated someday. I hope that art can function as a method and play a role in spreading it to other layers.”

"A work that serves as a bridge"

"why".

Mr. Tsutaya mentioned it many times during his stay in Nagasaki.

He showed a strong desire to absorb everything and connect it to new creations.

Mr. Tsutaya says that he wants to create works that will reach people who feel the atomic bomb and war far away, just like he once did.

Mr. Tsutaya:

“A person like me, who isn’t from Hiroshima or Nagasaki, stands somewhere in the middle (between Japan and the United States), is far from either, wants to know both, and approaches both. I think I am the closest person to the audience, especially the young audience, so I think it is important to express how I see things, what surprises me, and what I don't know. I

can understand people who don't know (about the atomic bomb and the war), so I want to create a work that can serve as a good bridge."

Mr. Tsutaya's special exhibition is open until October 2nd.

Social Affairs Reporter

Ryo Tomita

Joined

the Nagasaki Bureau in 2013. Reported on war-related issues centering on the atomic bombing and issues surrounding cultural properties.

After working in the Science and Culture Department, he entered the Social Affairs Department.