Kei Ito

Kei Ito
Staring at the Face of the Sun, 2024
Signed Artist Book

This autographed artist book "Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun" is published by Snap Collective in Denmark, recording the exhibition held at the Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, from January 27 to July 14, 2024.

This book and exhibition delve into the career of Japanese American artist Kei Ito, exploring themes of memory, history, and resilience. Drawing from his heritage as a third-generation hibakusha (atomic bomb victim), Ito uses innovative photographic techniques to address the hidden narratives of nuclear history and intergenerational trauma. Within these personal and hidden contexts, Ito bridges the divide between the US and Japan; challenging the definition of who nuclear victims are to include Downwinders and many more.

The exhibition spans five rooms, each offering a unique perspective on the impact of nuclear weaponry and the spirit of those affected. Ito’s work, such as the camera-less photography in Sungazing Scroll, reveals the invisible forces of radiation and life, creating a visual language that speaks to both trauma and healing. By excavating and unveiling hidden histories connected to his own, Ito utilizes his generational past as a case study for reckoning with contemporary and future events.

Kei Ito’s art invites viewers to reconsider the victims and survivors of nuclear events, emphasizing our shared human experience and the possibility of reconciliation. This artist book captures the exhibition’s journey from darkness to light, reflecting on resilience and the enduring impact of nuclear legacies.

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Kei Ito is an interdisciplinary artist whose work is centered around utilizing the conceptual framework of photography to visualize the invisible. Mainly employing camera-less photographic techniques, performance, and artifacts, Ito creates large-scale installations that excavate hidden histories. As a third-generation atomic bomb victim living in the US, Ito employs his generational history as a series of case studies that often applies the language of monuments and memorials, initiating a journey of healing and growth while inviting audiences to explore nuanced social issues and honor the memories of those lost to both historical and contemporary tragedies. 

Ito's artistic contributions have been widely recognized and exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions. His works have garnered attention in publications such as the Washington Post Magazine, Hyperallergic, BBC Culture & Art, BmoreArt, NHK, Denver Post, ESSE Magazine, and various newspapers worldwide. Notably, his pieces are held in institutional collections, including the Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Norton Museum of Art, the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, the Candela Collection, Johns Hopkins University, the Eskenazi Museum of Art, and the Georgia Museum of Art.

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