The Contemporary Art Purchasing Program’s New Arrivals 2021 include a variety of impactful artworks. Amongst the array of bright, colorful pieces displayed in the Stamp Gallery is a contrastingly shadowy, enchanting set of images: Kei Ito’s Under My Skin #1. This piece consists of two silver gelatin monoprints with a severity that evokes both beauty and contemplation. Ito is, uniquely, a photographer who does not use a camera. Rather, he manipulates light sensitive materials with sunlight exposure and various additives to produce images that reference the nuclear destruction from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Ito has a distinct connection to this tragedy. His grandfather survived the bombing, losing many of his loved ones as well as the city he called home. Much of Ito’s work is inspired by his grandfather’s stories of the bombing and the after-effects. Ito artistically depicts the emotional trauma and physical damage, while also implementing his abstract style and contemporary perspective. 

In Under My Skin #1, honey and oil are added during production to create cellular structures throughout the image. These represent cancer cells, an unseen but nonetheless devastating affliction that impacted countless survivors of the bombing, including Ito’s grandfather. The use of honey and oil is deliberate for more than just appearance. After the bombing, the unavailability of basic medicine and supplies forced survivors to treat burns on their own with honey and oil. 

The dark, cancerous appearance of Under My Skin #1 directly reflects the devastation of the Hiroshima bombing. However, the metallic golden hues (and the artist’s very existence) adds an element of strength, persistence, and life to the piece. Ito exists to share his story because his grandfather survived and lived on despite emotional and physical wounds. 

Fire and light are often symbolic of life and also death. In Ito’s work, they appear to symbolize both simultaneously. Under My Skin #1 directly reflects the devastation of the Hiroshima bombing, but it also displays survival against all odds. Using sunlight, honey, oil, and a deep connection to his roots, Ito indubitably portrays a powerful message of perseverance through pain.