YAMASHITA Vezo
Born: 9 September 1888 – Died: 27 May 1943
Particulars:
Vezo / Yezo / Ezo was born in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. He was a married man working as a farmer in Kanaky / New Caledonia, although his wife was living in Kumamoto. When the Pacific War broke out, he was taken to Australia and interned in Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. He was admitted to the Barmera Base Hospital for carcinoma of the stomach in May 1943 and died soon after. He was 54 years old. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Neriya Arnasalon
Artist/s Statement:
My drawing is about a farmer Mr Yamashita who left Japan to live in New Caledonia, and shows his time between these two countries, before he got captured during the war and sent to a prison camp. I included a letter I wrote to him and his name, how he signed it – in French and Japanese at the same time. Just like him, it is two things at once.
The reason why I wanted to do this artwork is because it was interesting to learn about the life of the person, to remember them.
Artist Bio:
Neriya Arnasalon is 8 years old and a student at primary school in Australia.