Henry Shimizu, 3 Images of Internment painting #3

In 1999, Dr. Henry Shimizu created a series of oil paintings based on his life as a teenager in the New Denver, BC, Japanese Internment Camp, from 1942 to 1946. They are now featured in the current exhibition “Images of Internment” at the Maltwood Prints and Drawings Gallery on the lower level of the McPherson Library.

The paintings highlight the activities and lifestyle of the internees in this camp; they are the memories of a teenager and his friends.

According to Shimizu, despite isolation from mainstream Canadian Society during this time, the development of young Japanese Canadians progressed in almost the same pattern as that of any other Canadian teenager. One would have thought that this internment experience would have embittered this group and led to widespread despair and depression. Instead, says Shimizu, they came away from the experience more determined to be successful Canadians, contrary to the intention of those who promoted and carried out this injustice of internment and exile.

This free exhibition runs to Feb. 2, 2012.

More information: uvac.uvic.ca