Unfolding Memories: Art of Testimony

Chiho Harazaki

August 9–31, 2025

Opening Reception with Panel Discussion & Live Music: August 16, 5–9 PM

LA Artcore, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Unfolding Memories: Art of Testimony, is an evocative art exhibition by Japanese-born visual artist Chiho Harazaki. On view August 9–31, 2025, the exhibition explores themes of memory, identity, and cultural tension, inviting audiences to reflect on the enduring impact of wartime trauma. The opening reception and live event will take place on August 16 from 5 to 9 PM at LA Artcore, 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles.

Inspired by interviews with individuals who experienced the war in Japan and the U.S., Unfolding Memories weaves together art, storytelling, and music to reflect on the deep human cost of conflict. Harazaki’s mixed-media works—spanning drawing, painting, and installation— blend traditional Japanese aesthetic with contemporary materials, including her signature use of adhesive tape. Informed by the voices of atomic bomb survivors and formerly incarcerated Japanese Americans, she creates pieces that bridge personal memory and political urgency— linking past injustice to current global tensions.

The opening event on August 16 features a panel discussion moderated by historian Diana Tsuchida, with panelists Setsuo Tomita and Sally Hamamoto—individuals who personally experienced wartime trauma. The evening will also feature live musical performances by Kozue Matsumoto, a koto player and CalArts alumna; Kevin Yokota, a drummer/percussionist and graduate of USC’s Thornton School of Music; and Southern California’s Japanese music ensemble, LA’s 33 Strings.

Created as a space for dialogue and remembrance, Unfolding Memories invites audiences to reflect across generations and cultures—connecting history to the present and inspiring empathy, justice, and peace.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit chihoharazaki.com or follow @chiho_harazaki on Instagram.

About the Artist

Chiho Harazaki is a Japanese-born visual artist based in Los Angeles. Her work blends traditional influences with contemporary techniques, including her innovative use of adhesive tape. Centered on memory, identity, and cultural storytelling, her practice reflects the experience of a first-generation immigrant navigating inherited values and modern life. Harazaki has exhibited widely across Southern California in solo and group shows at venues including the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Art Share L.A., Launch LA Gallery, and Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum of San Diego.