MORI Kisaku
Born: 21 July 1875 – Died: 3 November 1942
Particulars:
Kisaku was born in Gifu Prefecture in Japan. He arrived in Townsville in Queensland, Australia aboard the Sagami. He lived in the north Queensland region, including Mount Isa where he was last registered. He went back to Japan once in 1925. He was married with one son and was working as a laundry proprietor residing in Gimuy / Cairns when the Pacific War broke out. He handed over 2 pounds 5 shillings in cash to the authorities at the District Finance Office in Meanjin / Brisbane. Kisaku and his wife Sashi were interned at Tatura Internment Camp in Victora. He died later that year aged 67. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery, Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
David Shield
Artist/s Statement:
‘Left Laundry’
This piece commemorates Kisaku Mori, born in Gifu Prefecture, Japan in 1875. He went on to own a laundry firm in Cairns, Australia. It was here that he was captured and taken to internment at Tatura where he died in November of 1942 and was buried. This piece is both a look at bicultural nature with traditional Australian washing and ironing tools of the time juxtaposed with a traditionally made kimono hanging in the middle. A last piece of laundry left undone when he was captured, his own.
The kimono is hand stitched samekomon silk. This kind of silk appears to be a solid colour at a distance but on close examination shows the distinctive sharkskin pattern that gives the fabric its name. Special thanks go to the Redland City Museum for the use of their laundry display for this photo.
Artist Bio:
David Shield is a Yamada Style koto, jyushichigen, and shamisen musician, kimono maker, and Japanese interpreter based in Brisbane, Australia. He spent many years learning his art in Japan under the renowned musician Tanno Isejyu. He regularly returns to Japan to continue his studies and performs for groups both in Japan and in Australia, and makes all his own kimonos.