Two Talented Individuals who met in the South Seas
Atsushi Nakajima and Hisakatsu Hijikata met in July 1941 on the island of Palau in Micronesia. This was the period when Japan was expanding its influence over the islands of the Pacific. Hijikata began making paintings and sculpture in Palau in 1929, and he also became involved in studying the folklore and language of the island. Nakajima retired from his position at Yokohama Girls Higher School and went to Palau as a Japanese language editor and secretary in the Palau South Seas Agency. Soon the two began working together and formed a close friendship. Nakajima's late works strongly reflect his experiences in Palau, and it is thought that they were influenced by his friendship with Hijikata. This exhibition presents Hijikata's paintings and wood relief sculptures along with Nakajima's literary work and related documentation. We hope that it will provide a unique view of the work of two men who explored the profound possibilities of art and the human spirit.
