For immediate release:
Katsuko Ishigaki
Landscape With Base
March 3 - March 24, 2018

eitoeiko is pleased to announce a solo exhibition ‘Landscape With Base’ by Katsuko Ishigaki. This exhibition is her second exhibition
with eitoeiko. After World War II, there were an art village called ‘Nishimui’ in Okinawa. The paintings by Nishimui group became
foundations of postwar art in Okinawa. At the exhibition, Ishigaki depicts Okinawa after 60 years later from Nishimui. Under the strong
sunlight, the life in Okinawa is coexist with evergreen trees and plants around sea. However, behind the landscape, there is a history
with war and occupation. Ishigaki will show various size of fifteen oil paintings.

'Okinawa without US Bases'. I have heard a lot since my elementary school days. What do you think about? I was born in Ishigaki island,
1967. When I was born, Okinawa was occupied under the US and there was Ryukyu government instead of Japan. I was not born asJapanese. When Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972, I moved from Ishigaki to Naha with my parents, my sister and my brother. 27years passed from the WWII had ended. I still live in Naha where I raised up. One year after I graduated my high school, Okinawa
Prefectural Art University was founded. I was able to study art without moving out from Okinawa. Though I didn't understand what I
could do, I entered the university. I had only my passion to live by art. A lot of great encounters and the advice, I can continue myactivities as an artist today. I appreciate it.
73 years passed since the WWII had ended. 46 years from the return. It is a fact that both of in Japan and in Okinawa, almost all thepeople were born after the war. Nevertheless, ‘ Okinawa without US Bases' is a long held desire for Okinawan people. Without any
interests or disinterests, there should be no more anything about warfare in Okinawa. Suffering, pain and sadness by those who havegone before us should not repeat again. Okinawa should be a peaceful island.
I was a part time artist when I worked as a lecturer in high school and junior high school. In 2008, I quit my job and moved my studiofrom Naha to Koza. In 10 years of round trip from my home to my studio, I saw the landscape with base changed to be returned. Thereseems to be a difference of recognition between the people living with base, and the people living without base. In Naha City, the basehas already be returned and has rebuilt to a new town. For example, Gajanbira in Oroku area, where I made one of my paintings, wascompletely returned in 1986 and there are parks, schools, residency areas, shopping malls and mono-rail stations. The area called'Ameku-kaihouchi' was returned in 1987. And that time there was a land which was covered with a weed. After long years, the new road
opened and the development started. I saw the reconstruction with expecting and I made an artwork titled ‘Resurrection of land' in
2000. In my painting, two person standing on the land, the one had a plant. That was my imagined scenery. The area became
Omoromachi. There are a museum, schools, parks, a business district and hotels. People can't find the place what it used to be.
On my way to my studio, there are fencing around Futenma base in Okinawa City. It is decided that some bases will be returned. Someplaces have already became a shopping mall. Some places are waiting for reconstruction. I depict my landscape with base, hope to bereturned in future, and remember what was happened. I hope my attempt makes you an opportunity for thinking about. I will continue
to make my painting until the phrase ‘Okinwawa without US bases’ stops sounding in my head.

Katsuko Ishigaki (b.1967, Okinawa)
1991 received her BA from Okinawa Prefectural Art University
2014 Introducing Katsuko Ishigaki, eitoeiko
2015 Mabuni Peace Project, Okinawa
2016 Hanarart Core, Nara
2017 Ichihanari Art Project, Okinawa
2018 3331 Art Fair, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo

Left: View from Gajanbira Park, 53x72.7cm, oil on canvas, painted in 2018
Right: Torn Clouds, Camp Kinser, 53x72.7cm, oil on canvas, painted in 2018

Katsuko Ishigaki
Landscape with Base
March 3 - March 24, 2018
Opening Party: March 3, 6PM-8PM

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