EXHIBITION IMAGES

Images from "Slanted Perspective" MFA Exhibition, Gatov Gallery West on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. April 8, 2018.

View from Gatov Gallery West entrance. Left to right: "Asian Angst" graphic novel/cartoon series. "Stereotypes" Kiosk. "Innocent" hanging banner.

California State University Long Beach School of Art
Artist Statement

David Toyoshima
Slanted Perspectives

An Exhibition in Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree Masters of Fine Arts, Graphic Design

Slanted Perspective looks at historical and contemporary racism, negative stereotypes, and discrimination toward Japanese Americans and Asian Americans through my own family and personal experiences and memoirs.

Historical Background
Even before the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans, anti-Asian sentiment abounded. Japanese and Chinese Americans faced resentment and discrimination. The United States government exclusionary laws of 1917 and 1924 put a stop to Asian immigration and forbade Japanese-born citizens from owning land. Asians were considered the great “Yellow Menace.” Pearl Harbor and the “Day of Infamy” pretty much confirmed white American suspicions—all Japs were dangerous, even if they were born here; they needed to be herded and locked up.
After the War and decades later, JAs, despite their loyalty and contribution to this country, have never been completely seen as “American.” With their black hair, “slanted eyes,” and foreign-sounding surnames, they are still considered “aliens.”

Part of the impetus of my thesis comes from the current racial climate in America lead primarily by our own President. In 2015, then candidate Donald Trump said he would have supported Japanese American internment camps. At a rally in November 2017, Trump mocked Asian leaders by hunching his shoulders, squinting his eyes, and small bows with his head. In January of this year, he imitated Indian Prime Minister Modi’s accent. Just a few weeks ago, Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, in a meeting with U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa on the issue of funding World War II interment camp monuments, greeted her with “konichiwa,” which means “good afternoon” in Japanese. Ms. Hanabusa is a third-generation American. Not Japanese. Racism and bigotry are alive and well in America.

My mission is to tell my fight, my family’s fight, and my people’s fight that freedom, justice, and human dignity are ongoing struggles. This exhibition is dedicated to my father—a proud Nisei who endured war, racism, and government injustice, passed away a short time ago.

We, the undersigned Graduate Committee recommend that this exhibition satisfies a requirement for the MFA Degree.

Graduate Committee

Tanya Cummings, MFA Chair

Mike Whitlow, MFA

Dr. Laurie Gatlin, PhD

Video of Opening Night of Exhibition

Invitation Cards.

View of east corner of Gatov Gallery. Left to right: "Make it Manzanar" poster series.

"Far East Memories" Take-out Box campaign.

View looking east. Left to right: "Stereotypes" Kiosk. Center: "Freedom" Video.

Right: "Make it Manzanar" Poster Campaign

"Freedom" Video. The :52 Video (GIF) employs images of my father during WWII. He was a U.S. born citizen, yet he was incarcerated at Manzanar in 1942. A year later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Dad literally lost his freedom while having to fight for freedom.

David Toyoshima standing next to his "Stereotype" alter image.

Show's over. Packing up.

Thanks for coming.

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