I can only wish I was so brave.
I have been following the reports of the massive destruction and progress in maintaining and rebuilding the areas of Japan that were affected, at first, by the Tsunami and then secondly, by the radiation leakage from the Fukushima Power Plant. Had the emloyees of Fukushima ran away screaming and hiding, the plant would have completely broken down, risking a devastating amount of radiation into the surrounding areas, and possibly further. But they didn't. They stayed and fought. And they continue to fight.
I was reading a lot about the group of heroic plant workers, now dubbed the "Fukushima 50" who are selflessly risking their lives to prevent the plant's destruction when I ran across
THIS ARTICLE that really hit me. When asked why he risked his life to continue working and helping at Fukushima, Hiroyuki Kohno basically said "If I go, I will not return with the same healthy body. But I have no wife and no children, so I feel like it is my duty to fight." Almost immediately after reading that I had the urge to draw this image inspired by their bravery.
I have no idea how someone can be so brave, but I thank Kohno, and all of the other Fukushima workers for being, in the simplest term, HEROES.
My "HEROES" Print is now on sale online at Zerofriends and is available in both LIMITED & smaller, unlimited editions. Here are the details of the print as well as the information about the charity we are donating proceeds too.
Click on any pics to purchase
"HEROES"
Designed by Alex Pardee.
Limited Edition of 200
17" x 22" Printed with Archival Inks on Acid Free Velvet Cotton Rag.
Each print is hand signed and numbered by Alex Pardee.
PROCEEDS from the sales of these prints will be donated directly to the Fukushima Nuclear Power plant employees
and their families via the American Nuclear Society in support of the rebuilding process after the
devastating damage caused by the recent Tsunami.
You can read about the charity organization HERE
Detail of print:
Thank you for your support.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
"HEROES" Fukushima Charity Print Now Available.
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52 comments:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_iwo_jima
Nothing says "We support you!" like "Hey remember that time you guys lost like 99% of your fighting force in a month long blood bath?"
I understand what you're trying to do, and I do believe that your intentions are good. It's important, though, to be aware of the significance of the image you've used. "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" became an iconic representation of American victory at great cost, but the American cost pales in comparison to that incurred by the Japanese. 18,000 Japanese soldiers were stationed at Iwo Jima. 17,784 died in some of the most brutal fighting of the war.
Is that really the memory you want to evoke in a charity print?
is this supposed to be a joke? this is highly offensive to all parties involved. and im starting to think you dont understand why or what you did...
This is sickening, toss this one to the FAILURES folder.
an icon of Japanese defeat and you choose it to memorialize courage and bravery?!
I have no idea how someone can be so impossibly stupid.
The level of ignorance and general stupidity of your design cannot be put into words eloquently enough for people to understand just how tasteless this is.
I can't believe that anyone could be this naive.
nice idea, poor execution.
really, really bad choice for a design model.
This is just awful. It's really unfortunate that this mistake was so public and so fraught with terrible associations. I can't think that you did this on purpose. Please don't let the (justifiable) anger commenters make you defensive, but consider the history and then consider taking this down.
Hopefully just well intended ignorance, hopefully not one hell of a troll. This image seems awfully inappropriate considering its message.
Please take the time to realize why so many people would find this offensive - both in Japan and in America.
I truly believe that your heart is in the right place here trying to raise money for charity, but this design is just poorly thought-out.
I think it's YOU guys who are missing the point.
Only positive things should come from THIS image.
Bravo Alex.
To the previous poster:
It's easy to say "only positive things should come from THIS image" or that we're "missing the point."
If someone created an illustration as a fund-raiser for Saudi Arabia and used the iconic image of the firefighter carrying the dead child from the World Trade Center, would you still feel as positively?
Around five times more Japanese died at Iwo Jima than died in the 9/11 attacks.
It is a positive image... if you're an American.
For the Japanese it's an image reminiscent of an battle that resulted in the combat deaths/suicides of over 21,000 Japanese soldiers.
To everyone disliking/hating the concept - maybe try to view it as a representation of possibly rectifying past mistakes (or trying to be cognizant of them), as I believe this print was originally meant to evoke. It is a reverse image of the iconic Iwo Jima photo, at the very least, and is also intending to honor those who would purposely put themselves in harm's way for the greater good.
Think, if you can, how the Fukushima 50 would react to this image. Do you think they would feel pride? humble?
Cant tell if trolling or just very stupid...
I think the majority of you are missing the point entirely. I don't think that its is too far fetched to take an image that represents massive casualties and loss for the japenese people and reappropriate it as an image of empowerment. Thats kind of how art works. It seems that many of the people commenting here not only are unfamilier with Alex's work prior to this, but do not really understand art in general. Most likely, you read about this image on some blog somewhere that told you what to think about it and came here echoing that sentiment. Your comments come off reactionary and shallow. Next time read below the surface and perhaps take into account context, intent and previous body of work. That and a little bit of critical thought may relieve your misguided outrage. Alex keep doing what you do, its a brilliant piece. Love ya bud.
I think the majority of you are missing the point entirely. I don't think that its is too far fetched to take an image that represents massive casualties and loss for the japenese people and reappropriate it as an image of empowerment. Thats kind of how art works. It seems that many of the people commenting here not only are unfamilier with Alex's work prior to this, but do not really understand art in general. Most likely, you read about this image on some blog somewhere that told you what to think about it and came here echoing that sentiment. Your comments come off reactionary and shallow. Next time read below the surface and perhaps take into account context, intent and previous body of work. That and a little bit of critical thought may relieve your misguided outrage. Alex keep doing what you do, its a brilliant piece. Love ya bud.
I think the majority of you are missing the point entirely. I don't think that its is too far fetched to take an image that represents massive casualties and loss for the japenese people and reappropriate it as an image of empowerment. Thats kind of how art works. It seems that many of the people commenting here not only are unfamilier with Alex's work prior to this, but do not really understand art in general. Most likely, you read about this image on some blog somewhere that told you what to think about it and came here echoing that sentiment. Your comments come off reactionary and shallow. Next time read below the surface and perhaps take into account context, intent and previous body of work. That and a little bit of critical thought may relieve your misguided outrage. Alex keep doing what you do, its a brilliant piece. Love ya bud.
I think the majority of people commenting here are completely missing the point. It is not to big of a stretch to take an image that represents great causualty and loss and reapproriate it, thus turning it into an image of empowerment and respect. Thats kind of how art works. I think that most of the people commenting here are not only unfamilier with Alex as an artist, but don't really underfstand or grasp art in general. Most likely they read about this image on some blog out there or whatever and are just echoing the sentiments of whoever told them what to think about it. Perhaps if one took the time to read between the lines, such outrage could be avoided. Next time you should try taking into account context, style, intent and the artist's previous body of work. Mabey then, with a bit of critical thought, you wouldn't fall into the trappings of such reactionary viewpoints. Brilliant image Lex, keep doing what you do.
Topski
No Tact!
You need to read some accounts of Iwo Jima, from people who were there, on both sides. You are disrespecting the memory and sacrifice of the American service men who raised the flag on that tragic battle field.
And the attempt to honor Japanese people doing their job at a nuclear power plant, is less obviously a slap in their face too.
Take this down!
Poor form Alex. You're simultaneously trivializing the bravery and tenacity of American marines at Iwo Jima, AND mocking the bitter, bloody sacrifice of the Japanese soldiers who died for their misguided leadership.
A better comparison would be modelling this after iconic images from 9/11, Katrina, Haiti, that tsunami in S.E. Asia or any number of humanitarian efforts after a tradegy.
Actually I think its quite good if the message is that of the hollow victory, and the link between American triumphalism at the end of WW2 is a fair link since on that ideology they sold the world nuclear power.
its terribly drawn though.
This has to be a prank.
Is anyone buying this print?
Well, this print is certainly getting a lot of attention.
I don't think this is a vicious image used in a negative manner. Alex Pardee has too much awesome to "joke" about something this serious. The moment I saw this, I only thought of good things surrounding the image. I think we need someone from Japan to see this and see what the reaction is.
Dude Alex, Your so f****** clean! You really inspired me to get back into art! I quit for hella long, and my cousin showed me some of your work and I honestly fell in love! And everytime you do another print, It's F****** sick! You also inspired me to pursue art as a career! I want to someday have my own line of clothes, Skateboards, and sell prints! Alex Pardee = Baws!
An antique image negatively associating with the Japanese, has been manipulated to shed light on the current devastating situation in Japan.
The beauty of artistic license...
Could some really be this dumb? Can't be possible as he had to know where the original came from. How about doing a second piece with a giant mushroom cloud of rainbow that simulates the love America has for Japan?
all this shit really annoys me,
I believe Pardee's intentions were good, I find the pic awesome and I never thought he was joking about it
nice work Alex
Uncross failures from your title. This is a fail.
Had this idea last month. Could never get it to work. Love your take.
Well Done!
this is an insult not only to my grandfather and several of his buddies who died on iwo jima but also to the japanese themselves. you insult the fellows who raised the flag, and you insult the memory of those who died during ww2 on that island, on both sides.
you should be ashamed of yourself.
Are you just attention whoring or do you seriously not understand what the photo you used represents?
Oh - wow... not sure what to think or say. -www.lifestyleandcharity.com
-E
Unbelievably stupid.
No, Topski, it's how 'marxist deconstructionism posing as art' works. Deliberately robbign things of their meaning, overwriting them anew, utterly inverting history. Deconstructionism.
And in this case no small dose of self-aggrandizement / attention-seeking.
rayra
Alex really am his fan very long time ago I am a Colombian illustrator but I take my hat off to you how beautiful and amazing it worked for your compositions, textures, color is stunning all I am glad that talent is so great to admire.
hopefully one day have the chance to show my work again congratulations
http://www.facebook.com/ARTSICODELICO
I believe that the cause and Alex's intentions behind the print are really wonderful. There really isn't a need for bashing now...
Truly disgusting. This is just beyond disrespectful, not only for the marines that fought and died at Iwo Jima, but for the Japanese that fought and died there.
There is a special place in hell for people like you. I pray the good Lord shows you the errors of your ways and the path back to the light.
I bet 90% of the people who have commented didn't even think about Iwo Jima when they first saw this. They're just a herd of sheep.
It seems that quite possible that 90% of the 'Anonymous' posters are infact the same hermit
Hi, Alex. I've lived in Japan over 20 years and my first impression was that it is a wonderful work of art, despite the Iwo Jima reference. I asked my Japanese husband what he thought. He appreciates that your are trying to help the heroes of Fukushima. (There are actually more like 700 of them.) Alas, that is a problematic image for the Japanese. But you know, none of them would be pouring the awful vitriol on you some posters have. They would try to understand your motives first.
By the way here is a good article about these brave men: http://bit.ly/eYlZfu
and another
http://nyti.ms/fEG1zw
Excellent reporting by HIroko Tabuchi. I can't believe how badly these guys are treated.
After reading Alex's motivation to create this print I can't help but feel his heart is in the right place, and couldn't agree more with the sentiment that these heroic workers deserve to be honoured for their service and sacrifice. They are not, as some have indicated, "doing their job", but are willingly giving their lives in a very real way to protect the citizens of Japan, and in reality the world at large.
With that said, I can't help but agree with the sentiment of most posters that the choice of image was unfortunate if accidental, and distasteful if done purposefully.
Alex, I applaud the work you have done for a truly worthy cause, however I wish you could have used your obvious creativity and talent to create another image that was not so divisive and did not hold such a strong emotional connection for so many. There are certain iconic images that shouldn't be toyed with, and unfortunately you found one.
Scott
RE: "Kirstie said...
It seems that quite possible that 90% of the 'Anonymous' posters are infact the same hermit"
Don't bet on it...if you actually read them they are written in their own individual styles.
As I notice, I did not see any type of comment on the picture, but rather on the ones who responded.
Juliet A looks like a dude in drag.
That is all.
- Greg
"Urban Ninja said...
It is a reverse image of the iconic Iwo Jima photo, at the very least, and is also intending to honor those who would purposely put themselves in harm's way for the greater good."
^this
Get over it.
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