Roger Shimomura | Paintings

Roger Shimomura: Artist Statement for "An American Knockoff"
I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, a city where ethnic diversity is standard fare; however, for the last forty years, I have lived in the Midwest, where the Asian American presence is still somewhat of a rarity.

Since living in Kansas, I have found it to be routine to be asked what part of Japan I am from, or how long I have lived in this country. Just as common, subtle references continue to connect me to stereotypical "oriental" traits, both physical and behavioral.

Far too many American-born citizens of Asian descent continue to be accepted as only "American knockoffs." This latest series of paintings is an attempt to ameliorate the outrage of these misconceptions by depicting myself battling those stereotypes or, in tongue-in-cheek fashion, becoming those very same stereotypes.




AMERICAN BEATS AMERICAN, 2012
Acrylic on canvas
54 x 54 inches
$34,000


AMERICAN CHALLENGE, 2012
Acrylic on canvas
54 x 54 inches
$34,000



AMERICAN VS. JAPANESE #2, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
54 x 54 inches
$34,000





AMERICAN VS. POPEYE, 2012
Acrylic on canvas
54 x 54 inches
$34,000


JAPANESE IMPOSTER, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
54 x 54 inches
$34,000



AMERICAN VS. AMERICAN #3, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
34 x 34 inches
$18,500


CHINESE BABY IMPOSTER, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
34 x 34 inches
$18,500



NARUTO UZUMAKI, 2011
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
$11,000




POPEYE THE SHIM, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
$11,000


ROGER THE GOOF, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
$11,000


CHINESE IMPOSTER #2, 2011
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
$11,000



PUCCA, 2011
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 18 inches
$8,000


ROGER PIG, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 18 inches
$8,000



GEORGE BUSH VS. ME, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
34 x 34 inches
$18,500