Paying Tribute to Japanese Women Artists

Sarah Fukami

February 14, 2023

Sarah Fukami was born and works in Denver, Colorado and received her BFA with distinction from the University of Denver in 2014. She has completed residencies at RedLine and PlatteForum, and participated in exhibitions locally and nationally.

When I was a member of the focus group for an upcoming exhibition at the Denver Art Museum, I was elated to discover that it was going to highlight Japanese women artists. So, you can imagine how excited I was to receive the opportunity to contribute artistically to Her Brush (now on view)! After all, I am a Japanese-American woman artist myself. That identity has a profound effect on my existence and my art practice. Listening to the stories of my family immigrating to America and being unjustly imprisoned in camps growing up was standard. I realized later that this was a testament to the tradition of preserving narratives.

Designing the artist slips to be collected among the show enabled me to “sit” with the artists. The creation of an artwork dedicated to someone is intimate and done with care. It is almost meditative to spend time honoring another, to consider their perspective and experiences. Visitors can also take a few more minutes in the exhibition to do this in their own way, and mindfulness is encouraged through this practice.

While Her Brush features mostly scroll painting and calligraphy, the patterns used in my designs are sourced from textiles printed with wooden blocks. These are both rich artistic traditions that have been upheld throughout the centuries—and are often what one thinks of when referencing traditional Japanese arts. The elaborate ornamental patterns and bright colors draw the viewer’s gaze, thus becoming a catalyst to engage with the work and the artists featured in the exhibition.

Inspired by the poetry slips (tanzaku) included in Her Brush: Japanese Women Artists from the Fong-Johnstone Collection, we created an activity for kids (and adults) to find special boxes scattered throughout the exhibition that contain slips focused on five different Japanese women artists. Collect all the slips and place them in an accordion screen you can take home. Additionally, you can create your own artist slip where you can write, draw, or express whatever you want and place it in the screen as well.

Her Brush is included with general admission, which is free for members and everyone 18 and younger.

text on the backs of the 5 poetry slips in English and Spanish

My artwork usually employs this technique to have difficult conversations about Japanese-American history, but in this case I wanted to create meaningful tributes to these remarkable artists who persevered beyond their circumstances. These histories may have occurred at different times and places, but retain the essence of a universal human condition: not just to survive, but to thrive. To create meaning outside of the individual and connect to something
greater, as with art.

That is how history survives throughout the ages—by way of a desire to preserve it. Though it can be just as easily obscured with the same effort. Sometimes the truth must be revealed, and I believe it is our duty to do so. Whether it is through the oral, written, or visual tradition, it deserves to be seen and heard. To be remembered through something timeless is a fundamental human need. I hope that my and their work serves that purpose and I am honored to represent and contribute to their legacy in a small way. Thank you so much to the Denver Art Museum for having me and please take a trip to visit Her Brush!