Unfolding Memories: Art of Testimony is an evocative art exhibition by Japanese-born visual artist Chiho Harazaki.
On view August 9–31, 2025, at LA Artcore, 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, the exhibition explores themes of memory, identity, and cultural tension, inviting audiences to reflect on the enduring impact of wartime trauma.
Gallery hours are Thursday to Sunday, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Meher McArthur/Facebook (August 17, 2025) – While I was in Little Tokyo this afternoon with the porcelain artist, I walked over to the LA Art Core Little Tokyo Gallery, where Unfolding Memories: Art of Testimony, a powerful solo exhibition of works by Chiho Harazaki, is currently on view. I knew I admired Chiho’s work but I was utterly blown away by her extraordinary artistic skills- from sensitive graphite portraits to vibrant acrylic paintings to bold black-white scenes formed with electrical tape. And she uses these skills to tell so many moving stories of individuals in Japan who experiences the massive fire bombings of Tokyo and the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and of Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps or who fought for the US in WWII despite Executive Order 9066. The exhibition is a tour de force – and is particularly poignant in this political moment. It is up till the end of August and is a must-see exhibition. Well done, Chiho!
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; Southern California’s Japanese music ensemble, LA’s 33 Strings; and electroacoustic trumpeter Sara Sithi-Ammuai.
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
Opening reception with panel discussion & live music
August 16, 5–9 PM
Doors Open: 4:30 PM
Panel Discussion: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Music Performance: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
