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THE RADIOACTIVE LEAK MEMORIAL OF FUKUSHIMA
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Radioactive Seawater Inspires Public Sculpture Proposal for Japan’s Anti-Nuclear Protesters
TOKYO – A proposal for a monument called The Radioactive Leak Memorial of Fukushima is being unveiled by American artist Daniel Edwards for the antinuclear power protesters of Japan. Images of a model inspired by the 19th Century still-life prints of Japanese artist Hiroshige have been released by Cory Allen Contemporary Art (CACA) this week. The sculpture can be viewed on the official Daniel Edwards page on Facebook.
“The model for ‘The Radioactive Leak Memorial of Fukushima’ was inspired by last month’s report from Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) that radioactive water was found off the coast of Japan from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant,” explained Cory Allen, spokesperson for the artist. “The artist was also inspired by the antinuclear power protests in Tokyo.”
Edwards recreated tableaus of Lobster and Two Shrimp, and Flounder and Mebaru from famous woodcut prints by the artist Hiroshige, and turned them upside down. “I think Hiroshige would turn in his grave over the fish imperiled by the increased levels of radioactivity in Japan’s seawater. This sculpture is for the antinuclear power protesters of Japan.”
The crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant has spawned antinuclear protests in Tokyo on a scale not seen for decades. Japanese media estimated that 15,000 people calling for immediate closure of all the country's nuclear plants marched through Tokyo's Koenji neighborhood on April 10, and more are expected for a similar demonstration this Saturday.
TEPCO said it could not deny the possibility that radiation-contaminated water was still leaking and it would continue to closely monitor the situation, Kyodo News agency reported.
“The model for ‘The Radioactive Leak Memorial of Fukushima’ was inspired by last month’s report from Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) that radioactive water was found off the coast of Japan from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant,” explained Cory Allen, spokesperson for the artist. “The artist was also inspired by the antinuclear power protests in Tokyo.”
Edwards recreated tableaus of Lobster and Two Shrimp, and Flounder and Mebaru from famous woodcut prints by the artist Hiroshige, and turned them upside down. “I think Hiroshige would turn in his grave over the fish imperiled by the increased levels of radioactivity in Japan’s seawater. This sculpture is for the antinuclear power protesters of Japan.”
The crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant has spawned antinuclear protests in Tokyo on a scale not seen for decades. Japanese media estimated that 15,000 people calling for immediate closure of all the country's nuclear plants marched through Tokyo's Koenji neighborhood on April 10, and more are expected for a similar demonstration this Saturday.
TEPCO said it could not deny the possibility that radiation-contaminated water was still leaking and it would continue to closely monitor the situation, Kyodo News agency reported.
