Katsuko Ishigaki’s panoramas are dominated by vibrant blues, greens and whites, capturing the colours of Okinawa’s sea, sky, vegetation and towns. For all their sunny tones, they also document the interventions of global politics in the landscape, with American and Japanese military installations positioned in sobering proximity to places where people live, study and work.

For the Triennial, Ishigaki has created a new suite of paintings taking in the areas surrounding Air Station Futenma, a major United States military airbase in Okinawa, as well as the artist’s home island of Ishigaki. Inevitably attracting attention for their sunny tones, Ishigaki’s landscapes linger in the mind for the strangeness of their contrasts and frankness of their depictions.

This project is assisted by the Ishibashi Foundation and the National Center for Art Research, Japan.