NAKANDAKARI Taro
Born: 3 July 1875 – Died: 20 October 1943
Particulars:
Taro was born in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. He was a single man with a sister living in Kunigami Gun in Okinawa. He was working as a farmer in Kanaky / New Caledonia when the Pacific War broke out. He was taken to Australia and interned at Hay Internment Camp in New South Wales. The authorities at the camp seized 195 francs on his arrival. He was transferred to Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia in 1943 when a camp reorganisation took place. After spending time in and out of hospital, he died from an aortic aneurysm at age 68. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Sophie Steains
Artist/s Statement:
Taro Nakandakari’s occupation is listed as farmer. I wanted to acknowledge our shared histories by taking a photograph of a tomato chili plant I am growing on my balcony. I learnt through research that internees grew tomato crops inside the camps and were innovative in their farming methods, which benefited the unknowing Australian public during World War II. I wanted to acknowledge these farmers’ important work despite their lives being so disrupted by internment. I felt it was poignant that there are bars in the background of the photograph, which reminds me of being held prisoner in the internment camp – against this backdrop, the natural cycle of birth, death, and rebirth takes place with patience and care.
Artist Bio:
Sophie Steains is a clinical psychologist who was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Her mother immigrated to Sydney from Ginowan City, Okinawa in 1976.