YAMAUCHI Sadahichi
Born: 16 November 1894 – Died: 15 November 1945
Particulars:
Sadahichi was born in Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan. He was 5 feet 3 inches tall, of brown complexion, with black hair, brown eyes and with ‘a mole to left of eye’. He was a Buddhist, and his wife and son lived in Kagawa Prefecture. Sadahichi was a merchant in West Borneo, Dutch East Indies, now West Kalimantan, Indonesia when the Pacific War broke out. He was transferred by ship to Adelaide and was sent to Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. He died one day before he turned 51, although the cause of his death is not recorded in documents held in the National Archives of Australia. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Cynthia Breheny
More info:
Cynthia Breheny
Artist/s Statement:
Sadahichi Yamauchi was a Japanese citizen, yet he was captured in West Borneo in Dutch East Indies, now West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and shipped to Adelaide in Australia, leaving his wife and child in Japan. By incorporating a map, I wanted to show this journey and to emphasise the difference in the country where he was born to the country where he died by incorporating fragile Japanese maple leaves descending into the more robust eucalyptus leaves, a symbol of Australia.
Artist Bio:
Cynthia Breheny was born and educated in Tasmania, Australia. She has a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Tasmania and a Certificate IV in Visual Art from the Canberra Institute of Technology. After graduating, she worked as an architect in Canberra. Her significant achievements include winning The University of Canberra Best Childrens’ Information Book prize for ‘Inside Canberra’ in 2013. Cynthia is a practising visual artist, who has developed fine drafting and observational skills to a high degree. She is interested in artwork that gives pleasure, incorporating familiar pre-used objects re-used in unexpected juxtaposition. She aims to help conservation of the natural environment by creating appropriate artwork that informs.