Emerging Radiance 

Emerging Radiance:

Honoring the Nikkei Farmers of Bellevue

Emerging Radiance is an immersive, tech-forward installation by Michelle Kumata and Tani Ikeda honoring the untold stories of Japanese American farmers who lived in Bellevue, WA from 1920 to 1942. These farmers transformed unusable land into a thriving and prosperous community before being forcibly uprooted and incarcerated, along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, during WWII. Three augmented-reality filters bring the farmers' stories to life, animating the mural on a life-sized farmhouse structure with archival images and audio recordings.

Produced by Meta Open Arts and presented in partnership with Immediate Justice, Densho, and Future Arts at Bellevue Arts Museum.

Special thanks to VMF for structural support.
Future Arts is honored and delighted to be a producing partner on this project.
Emerging Radiance is a Winner of Tribeca X 2022.
Content by ARTXIV

  • Inside a gallery sits a small house structure with mural
  • Michelle Kumata paints wite dots around a QR code on a mural to blend it with the artwork
  • Patrons in the gallery viewing the artwork
  • A modern gallery full of onlookers
  • Tribeca Festival award winner for interactive
  • Patrons gather around to tour the artwork with ASL
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