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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
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