The Shameful Chrysanthemum

In the history of mankind, peace always seems tenuous and ephemeral. We live in a world that constantly transitions from one war to the next, regardless of scale or scope. There are always people, mostly those in positions of power, who seek meaning and purpose in wars—or worse, grow rich and powerful from them. Meanwhile, patriotic young individuals, engaged and incentivised by propaganda, become soldiers and warriors willing to fight to the end for the promise of honour. But does honour exist in any kind of war?

When Japanese artist Sayo Senoo visited Norway for the first time as a 10-year-old child, she did not yet know how to answer the questions she received about the Second World War and Japan’s role in Asia. She only remembered the sadness and remorse she had been taught to carry, as most people in Japan had. Now, as an artist, she is deeply engaged in working with inspiration and materials drawn from historical events related to radioactivity—the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and others. Through her art, she has finally found an intuitive yet fragmented way to respond to these questions.