Sunday at Hirohito's (3), 2012
acrylic on page of a book
18 x 25.5 cm (page size)
Exhibitions
2012 "Defect in Vision", Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam
The name "Sunday at Hirohito's" is taken from the series of photos taken in December 1945 and published by the American Life Magazine in February 1946 called, "Sunday at Hirohito's- Emperor poses for first informal pictures". It was the first time the Japanese public saw him in daily settings. American's purpose was to provide an image of the emperor as an ordinary person instead of a divine figure. In 1946, on January 1st, as part of a New year's statement, he made the Humanity Declaration (Renounciation of Divinity) under American's request. Meiro Koizumi painted anatomical images over his figure to push the concept further.
