In My Peoples Are You With Me Where You At, Kellen Hatanaka presents 12 paintings that explore, question and consider Asian American identity and the place it holds in contemporary western culture. Traditional athletes, martial arts, and musicians collide at the crossroads of ethic intersectionality within the works, providing nuanced glimpses into the artist’s mind. The common thread of searching for belonging ties this group of works together with the show’s title. With a borrowed lyric from Wu-Tang, Hatanaka’s title implores the viewer to consider how one participates in culture outside of their own in pursuit of community and representation. The show is on view at allcity.space now.
Kellen Hatanaka (b. 1987, Toronto, Canada) is a multidisciplinary artist who makes vibrant, figurative paintings and drawings that celebrate sport, design, history, and culture. His work considers race, tradition, and heritage as he explores the constructs of the sporting body and the nuances of Japanese Canadian experience. Hatanaka’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been featured in a range of publications. Hatanaka and collaborator Jon-Erik Lappano received the Governor General's Award for their book Tokyo Digs a Garden (2016). He is currently based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
