Lis Fields’ ‘Red Kimono’ series has been conceived in response to the nuclear catastrophe unleashed at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan in March 2011. The series of portraits is intended as a gesture of solidarity with all those who are suffering as a result of this ongoing, multi-faceted catastrophe.
Those who participated in the series are artists and/or activists of some kind; both male and female and diverse in age, nationality and racial heritage. Each participant is first painted with geisha-style makeup and dressed in the same vintage red kimono before being photographed. As the makeup takes several hours to apply, this allows for conversations on the Fukushima catastrophe and gives every participant the opportunity to learn something, or something more about it.
The diversity of the participants in the project is intended to reflect the fact that everyone on the planet, regardless of race, nationality, culture, age or gender, has been affected in some way and to some degree by the catastrophe – whether by physical consequences of breathing, drinking or eating one or more of the radioactive particles from the destroyed reactors to the psychological, emotional, social, political or economic consequences.
50% of the profits from the sale of Red Kimono prints will be given to a charity which helps children from Fukushima.
‘Red Kimono’ at Conway Hall
2 – 30th September 2015
Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square,
London,
WC1R 4RL
Please note: opening times vary, check www.redkimono.org for full details.
Find out more about ‘Red Kimono’