Japanese Art Unit

“Art of Gaman” inspired by works from the Japanese American Internment Camps

By Ms. Char’s MYP Global Art Students

MYP Global Art students in Ms. Char’s class studied the art and culture of Japan. For this project, students learned about the Japanese American Internment camps during World War II. During the war, all people of Japanese descent, living on the west coast were forced to move into internment camps where they were held captive from 1942-1944. They lost their homes, businesses, possessions, and even their pets. They did not know where they were going or how long they would be gone. They had no idea what would happen to them.

While in the internment camps, the Japanese had to cope with a lot of different emotions. Days of waiting, they had to find ways to pass their time and so the “Art of Gaman” was born. “Gaman” translates to “Enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.” Beautiful arts, crafts, and utilitarian objects were created out of found and recycled materials. People looked to the environment to see what kinds of materials it would provide. They took old bits of paper, cardboard, fabric, wood, food wrappers, and other discarded scraps and used them in new and inventive ways, creating beautiful works of art.

MYP Global Art students made their projects based on an inspiration piece from one of the Japanese Internment Camps. In the mind-set of the Japanese internees, they had to be resourceful and use only found or recycled materials to make their craft.

On display are some examples from the “Art of Gaman” unit. We hope that you will learn from and enjoy these works of art.