American Citizen #1

Roger Shimomura, artist

born 1939

American Citizen #1, 2006

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: color lithograph

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 406 x 304 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 16 x 11 15/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 470 x 355 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 18 1/2 x 14 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 25 x 20 in

Credit line: Gift of the artist

Accession number: 2007.0093

Not on display

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The work of Japanese-American artist Shimomura betrays the many ways that childhood experiences mark adult identities. At first glance, these lithographs appear to show idyllic scenes of a young, well-tended boy who entertains himself in a peaceful home. The serene blue sky glimpsed through the window, however, is marred by sharp rows of barbed wire. These prints, like others Shimomura has created, portray his experiences while interned at Camp Minidoka, Idaho, during World War II. Inspired by his grandmother’s diaries and his own intimate memories, the artist represents the small human details of daily life within the context of an internment camp.