NAKAMURA Kaichi
Born: 12 October 1884 – Died: 8 July 1945
Particulars:
Kaichi was born in Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. He was a single man working as a laundryman in Padang, Sumatra, in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia when the Pacific War broke out. He was taken to Australia and interned at Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. He was admitted to the camp hospital and died soon after, aged 61. The records state that he died of senility and hemiplegia. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Natalie Hill
Artist/s Statement:
I wanted to highlight Kaichi’s journey from life in Japan, to Sumatra, then to Australia. I have hidden layers within the work, map of Japan to Australia, the light colours moving to the black, giving the suggestion of life slowing, fading due to Kaichi’s senility and hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body). I feel strongly that he would have felt lost, alone, and confused in his final couple of years, which saddens me.
Artist Bio:
Natalie Hill is a mixed media artist based in Canberra, Australia. Natalie uses paint, collage, and various other materials to produce semi-abstracted works. Natalie mostly produces works based on her travels throughout the world, focusing on a feeling of place rather than a direct representation.