Thursday, May 19, 2016

The Legacy of Cultural Exchange: Japan and U.S in the 1960s

Although much of the history of the collection has been lost over the years, it is thought to have been created as part of a cultural exchange organized by one or more local schools in both San José and Okayama, perhaps in celebration of an early anniversary of San José’s sister city friendship with Okayama.

While the history, and mystery, of the origins of the collection are compelling, it is the artwork itself that is utterly beguiling. Like a time capsule, these young artists have captured a moment in history, given us a glimpse of life in Japan in the early 1960s. Ranging in age from five to fifteen, they have left us with a deeply personal and richly expressive view of the world from a child’s perspective — what they find fascinating, frightening, perplexing, and familiar.
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