- Artist
- Paul Graham born 1956
- Medium
- Photograph, colour, on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 1225 × 2050 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased 1994
- Reference
- P77634
Display caption
In the 'Japanese series' of diptychs, Graham uses photography to document and explore how the past continues to assert itself in the present. Each work comprises an image taken from Japan's past with an image taken from her present. Here the photograph of a female Hiroshima victim is one of several famous and emotive images from the Second World War. The pattern of the burns reflects the fabric of the victim's kimono, traditional symbol of Japanese femininity. This image is in striking contrast to the happy-go-lucky image of a young girl taken from a piece of wrapping paper which itself reflects the invasion of the American-influenced commercial world.
Gallery label, September 2004
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Explore
- emotions, concepts and ideas(16,416)
-
- formal qualities(12,454)
-
- photographic(4,673)
- girl(1,079)
- burn(10)
- social comment(6,584)
-
- commerce(93)
- contemporary society(640)