The Redwood City Improvement Association, in collaboration with Fung Collaboratives, has unveiled a new public art installation at the Art Kiosk in downtown Redwood City. The Adventures of Kiku no Hana (Japanese for “chrysanthemum”), the installation is the work of Oakland-based visual artist Lisa Solomon and curated by Jennifer Easton.
The exhibition will be on display until September 15th.
The installation examines the historical impact of Executive Order 9066 on Japanese-American families’ chrysanthemum farms on the peninsula, which led to the incarceration of Japanese-American citizens during World War II.
Drawing on archival materials from the San Mateo County Historical Association, Solomon’s work pays tribute to the Japanese-American farmers who built successful businesses before their lives were turned upside down by the wartime order.
“Kiku no Hana”“” serves as both a tribute and a reminder of the challenges these communities faced. The chrysanthemum is the official symbol of the Japanese royal family and represents an important cultural and economic link for Japanese immigrants and their descendants. Even after returning from internment, many Americans of Japanese descent continued to grow chrysanthemums, seeing the flower as a symbol of resilience and resistance to cultural erasure.
Lisa Solomon, who identifies as Hapa (half Japanese, half Caucasian), brought personal meaning to the installation. Her mixed-media works reflect her fascination with hybridization and her exploration of heritage, domesticity, and feminism. Solomon’s artistic approach often intersects with scientific inquiry, and this installation is no exception, delving deep into the historical and cultural significance of the chrysanthemum in the lives of Japanese Americans.
Located at the Art Kiosk at 2208 Broadway Street in front of Courthouse Square, the installation offers visitors the opportunity to engage with a piece of local history that addresses broader themes of resilience, identity and the ongoing impact of historical injustice.
