By Zhenjie(Jey) Dong
In March 2011, the great earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant of Japan, which released an extensive amount of radioactive materials into the environment. The impact of the incident continues to linger and influence those lives of local residents.
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Shimpei Takeda at Hyaku-Shaku Kannon, in Soma-city, Fukushima. Photo by Keisuke Hiei.
Shimpei Takeda, a Fukushima-born Brooklyn-based artist responds to the disaster with an ongoing project Trace– cameraless records of radioactive contamination, in which he exposes contaminated soil to photo-sensitive materials. The autoradiographs that resemble the solar system and night sky, are abstract and beautiful as most of his previous photographs but have a meaning beyond its beauty. As Takeda wrote in his statement, “[the images] will be a valuable asset and documentation for future generations.”
The process of making the project is very much like a science experiment. In January 2012, Takeda collected 16 soil samples from 12 locations in 5 different prefectures of nuclear affected area in Japan, and will visit additional locations in the summer, 2013. These locations include temples, shrines, war sites, ruins of castles, and his birthplace, all of which contain strong memories of life and death. He places each soil sample on top of photographic film, stores them in a light tight box for exactly one month, and finally develops the film. The radioactive particles in the soil expose the film as visible light does. Takeda thus manages to turn the invisible radiation and abstract Geiger counter number into a visible and tangible form that reveals the current state of Japan.
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Collected soil samples.
On March 10th, at a memorial symposium of 3.11 Earthquake & Tsunami held in Columbia University, Shimpei Takeda will have a presentation together with Jake Price. For more information please visit: http://nyjapan311.org/
On March 11th, Takeda will also be featured in a national American radio show "The Story with Dick Gordon."
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Trace #3, Former Kasumigaura Naval Air Base, 2012![]()
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/3/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Ami, Ibaraki 104.9mi (168.8km) SW, Radiation Measurement: Air 0.415μSv/h, Ground 1.007μSv/h
Former Kasumigaura Naval Air Base
Kasumigaura Naval Air Force was opened in 1922, focusing on flight education for pilots. The site is currently used as Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. On the premises, dozens of WWII tanks are on display, and there is also a memorial hall exhibiting young pilots’ portraits, notes, and belongings.
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Trace #7, Nihonmatsu Castle, 2012![]()
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/4/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Nihonmatsu, Fukushima 34.7mi (55.9km) NW, Radiation Measurement: Air 1.910μSv/h, Ground 4.299μSv/h
Nihonmatsu Castle
Built in 1414, the Nihonmatsu Castle became an important battle site during the Boshin War (1868–69), a series of battles that led to the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the imperial rule in Japan. The Nihonmatsu Youth Corps, twenty young warriors between the ages of 12 and 17, perished here.
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Trace #9, Asaka Kuni-tsuko Shrine, 2012
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Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/4/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Koriyama, Fukushima 35.1mi (56.5km) W, Radiation Measurement: Air 1.152μSv/h, Ground 3.780μSv/h
Asaka Kuni-tsuko Shrine
This shrine was built in 135AD when Asaka province was founded, and dedicated to Wakumusubi, a god of farming in Japanese mythology. In the late 8th century, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, a general in the imperial court prayed for victories against the native population, pushing them further north.
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Trace #10, Iwase General Hospital, 2012![]()
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/5/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Sukagawa, Fukushima 36.7mi (59km) SW, Radiation Measurement: Air 0.363μSv/h, Ground 0.560μSv/h
Iwase General Hospital
Opened in 1872, Iwase General Hospital was one of the earliest hospitals outside of Tokyo to introduce western medicine. Records show that Meiji-era statesmen performed inspections there. Over 100 years later, I was born at this hospital.
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Trace #16, Lake Hayama (Mano Dam), 2012![]()
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/8/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Iitate, Fukushima 24.7mi (39.7km) NW, Radiation Measurement: Air 1.848μSv/h, Ground 6.438μSv/h
Lake Hayama (Mano Dam)
Built in 1991, the reservoir used to be popular for black bass fishing. As a result of the nuclear meltdowns, the village of Iitate was evacuated by the central government order. Despite of the immense beauty of the scenery, my Geiger counter clicked continuously.
Photojournalist and filmmaker Jake Price came along with Shimpei Takeda to document the production of the mural sized Trace, and the lives of people under the constant threat of radiation in Fukushima, Japan.
To view more work by Takeda, please visit his website. Limited edition silver gelatin prints and books of Trace are currently available for purchase shika-inc.com/store/artist/shimpei_takeda/
Zhenjie Dong is a Chinese born and New York based artist and photographer exploring ways to express her social and political concerns through photography. A BFA graduate of the Communication University of China, Zhenjie Dong recently graduated with MFA in photography at Savannah College of Art and Design. She recently spoke at TEDxCreative Coast 2012 about her work Recreating Myth and the philosophy behind it. Her project QR Series has been featured on numerous websites including Hey Hot Shot!, Feature Shoot and Design Boom.
Shimpei Takeda at Hyaku-Shaku Kannon, in Soma-city, Fukushima. Photo by Keisuke Hiei.
Shimpei Takeda, a Fukushima-born Brooklyn-based artist responds to the disaster with an ongoing project Trace– cameraless records of radioactive contamination, in which he exposes contaminated soil to photo-sensitive materials. The autoradiographs that resemble the solar system and night sky, are abstract and beautiful as most of his previous photographs but have a meaning beyond its beauty. As Takeda wrote in his statement, “[the images] will be a valuable asset and documentation for future generations.”
The process of making the project is very much like a science experiment. In January 2012, Takeda collected 16 soil samples from 12 locations in 5 different prefectures of nuclear affected area in Japan, and will visit additional locations in the summer, 2013. These locations include temples, shrines, war sites, ruins of castles, and his birthplace, all of which contain strong memories of life and death. He places each soil sample on top of photographic film, stores them in a light tight box for exactly one month, and finally develops the film. The radioactive particles in the soil expose the film as visible light does. Takeda thus manages to turn the invisible radiation and abstract Geiger counter number into a visible and tangible form that reveals the current state of Japan.
Collected soil samples.
On March 10th, at a memorial symposium of 3.11 Earthquake & Tsunami held in Columbia University, Shimpei Takeda will have a presentation together with Jake Price. For more information please visit: http://nyjapan311.org/
On March 11th, Takeda will also be featured in a national American radio show "The Story with Dick Gordon."
Trace #3, Former Kasumigaura Naval Air Base, 2012
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/3/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Ami, Ibaraki 104.9mi (168.8km) SW, Radiation Measurement: Air 0.415μSv/h, Ground 1.007μSv/h
Former Kasumigaura Naval Air Base
Kasumigaura Naval Air Force was opened in 1922, focusing on flight education for pilots. The site is currently used as Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. On the premises, dozens of WWII tanks are on display, and there is also a memorial hall exhibiting young pilots’ portraits, notes, and belongings.
Trace #7, Nihonmatsu Castle, 2012
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/4/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Nihonmatsu, Fukushima 34.7mi (55.9km) NW, Radiation Measurement: Air 1.910μSv/h, Ground 4.299μSv/h
Nihonmatsu Castle
Built in 1414, the Nihonmatsu Castle became an important battle site during the Boshin War (1868–69), a series of battles that led to the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the imperial rule in Japan. The Nihonmatsu Youth Corps, twenty young warriors between the ages of 12 and 17, perished here.
Trace #9, Asaka Kuni-tsuko Shrine, 2012
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/4/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Koriyama, Fukushima 35.1mi (56.5km) W, Radiation Measurement: Air 1.152μSv/h, Ground 3.780μSv/h
Asaka Kuni-tsuko Shrine
This shrine was built in 135AD when Asaka province was founded, and dedicated to Wakumusubi, a god of farming in Japanese mythology. In the late 8th century, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, a general in the imperial court prayed for victories against the native population, pushing them further north.
Trace #10, Iwase General Hospital, 2012
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/5/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Sukagawa, Fukushima 36.7mi (59km) SW, Radiation Measurement: Air 0.363μSv/h, Ground 0.560μSv/h
Iwase General Hospital
Opened in 1872, Iwase General Hospital was one of the earliest hospitals outside of Tokyo to introduce western medicine. Records show that Meiji-era statesmen performed inspections there. Over 100 years later, I was born at this hospital.
Trace #16, Lake Hayama (Mano Dam), 2012
Soil Sample Data
Collected Date: 1/8/2012, Weather: Sunny, Location: Iitate, Fukushima 24.7mi (39.7km) NW, Radiation Measurement: Air 1.848μSv/h, Ground 6.438μSv/h
Lake Hayama (Mano Dam)
Built in 1991, the reservoir used to be popular for black bass fishing. As a result of the nuclear meltdowns, the village of Iitate was evacuated by the central government order. Despite of the immense beauty of the scenery, my Geiger counter clicked continuously.
Photojournalist and filmmaker Jake Price came along with Shimpei Takeda to document the production of the mural sized Trace, and the lives of people under the constant threat of radiation in Fukushima, Japan.
To view more work by Takeda, please visit his website. Limited edition silver gelatin prints and books of Trace are currently available for purchase shika-inc.com/store/artist/shimpei_takeda/
Zhenjie Dong is a Chinese born and New York based artist and photographer exploring ways to express her social and political concerns through photography. A BFA graduate of the Communication University of China, Zhenjie Dong recently graduated with MFA in photography at Savannah College of Art and Design. She recently spoke at TEDxCreative Coast 2012 about her work Recreating Myth and the philosophy behind it. Her project QR Series has been featured on numerous websites including Hey Hot Shot!, Feature Shoot and Design Boom.