I developed a visually dynamic artwork, engaging educational materials, and a public display to share key aspects of Japanese American history and relate them to issues of civil liberties in the present.

This work was a part of the class "Never Again 9066", which was dedicated to examining the history of the unconstitutional incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, and how the struggles they faced are connected to issues faced by the Asian American community in the present.

Research included primary sources such as interviews from surviving camp inmates and letters written during the time of the incarceration, as well as contemporary information and ideas from leading scholars, artists, and designers.

My piece, titled "10 camps, 120,000 lives, 120,000 stories", creates a people-first narrative of the camp experiences. Japanese Americans were collectively perceived as enemies during WWII, regardless of their age, gender, or citizenship status. This connects to the contemporary issue of Asian Americans being perceived as a single, monolithic culture, despite being from different places and coming from all walks of life. My work celebrates the diversity within the Japanese American community, highlights identities which often go overlooked, and opens a new perspective for people to engage with the culture's history.

The full project and educational materials can be found here.
Project case study can be found here