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Protest Surrounding the Construction of Narita Airport

A work made of gelatin silver print.

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  • A work made of gelatin silver print.

Date:

c. 1969

Artist:

Photographer unknown
Japanese, 20th century

About this artwork

Protests saturated postwar Japan’s political landscape. In 1960 public demonstrations were sparked by the ratification of a lopsided security treaty between Japan and the United States, which was escalating involvement in Vietnam. Large-scale protests were also mounted against the construction of Narita Airport, led by leftists who opposed the airport out of antimilitarist, anti-American sentiments, as well as farmers whose land would be seized in order to make room for the massive facility. While the airport was completed in 1972, it only opened in 1978 after the government finally quelled the dogged resisters. This picture is one of a group of 500 made anonymously by one or more protesters against the airport, and purchased by the Art Institute in 2010.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Unknown

Title

Protest Surrounding the Construction of Narita Airport

Place

Japan (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1962–1978

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image/paper: 24.1 × 16.1 cm (9 1/2 × 6 3/8 in.)

Credit Line

Photography Gala Fund

Reference Number

2011.40.264

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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