Little Tokyo

Project Description

The iconic red Yagura Tower and the blue tile roofs of Japanese Village Plaza emerge from a vivid collage of washi paper and colored pencil, against a swirling wood grain surface, creating a contemporary landscape of a neighborhood landmark.

Artist Statement

“The washi paper is vibrant and detailed with various printed designs that add depth and color to the piece, and also serve as a metaphor for the diverse, colorful history of the neighborhood. I incorporated a wood panel as my backdrop to reference Japanese woodblock prints. The swirling lines and natural blemishes in wood made me think of Asian landscape painting as well.”

About the Artist

SHIZU SALDAMANDO has exhibited her artworks at venues that include the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.; Museo del Barrio, New York City; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles; Setagaya Museum, Tokyo; Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, Indianapolis; Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles; CAM Contemporáneo, Guadalajara; and the Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles. She is a recipient of the California Community Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Visual Artists. Saldamando holds a Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.