About Masumi Hayashi (1945-2006)
Masumi Hayashi was a renowned Japanese American photographer and artist, best known for her panoramic photo collages of landscapes and interiors. Her work often explored themes of memory, history, and cultural identity, with a particular focus on Japanese American internment camps and abandoned prisons.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1945 in the Gila River War Relocation Center in Rivers, Arizona, Hayashi's early life was shaped by the experience of Japanese American internment during World War II. After the war, her family moved to Los Angeles, where she grew up.
Hayashi pursued her education in art, earning her:
- BA from Florida State University in 1975
- MFA from Florida State University in 1977
Artistic Career
Hayashi began her teaching career at Cleveland State University in 1982, where she became a Professor of Photography. Her distinctive panoramic photo collage technique became her signature style, allowing her to capture both the physical and emotional dimensions of historically significant places.
Her work has been exhibited internationally and is included in the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Japanese American National Museum, and the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House, among others.
Legacy
Masumi Hayashi's work continues to serve as a powerful testament to the importance of remembering and documenting historical sites of trauma and resilience. Her panoramic photographs of Japanese American concentration camps stand as both historical documents and works of art, helping to preserve the memory of this crucial chapter in American history.