Meet Brittany Fukushima,The Artist Featured In Our Hemingway Activities

With the new Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary Hemingway premiering April 5, WFYI is hosting a variety of local activities designed to spark discussion around Ernest Hemingway's life. WFYI commissioned Indianapolis artist Brittany Fukushima to give artistic life to these conversations. In keeping with the tension of the new documentary film, they created a series of collages exploring the literal layers of Hemingway and his legacy. Fukushima attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and graduated from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.

Take a bit of Hemingway with you by downloading smartphone background images and bookmarks featuring Fukushima's work. Learn more about their inspiration for and connection to their work in the Q&A below.

What is your favorite Hemingway story, and why?

I recently encountered Hemingway’s work for the first time. The first Hemingway piece I’ve read was The Sun Also Rises, but I look forward to reading The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Men Without Women. Why did you decide to take on this project?

What did you find exciting about the opportunity?

I took this opportunity as a chance to get to know Hemingway’s work better, since I’d only just begun to explore it. I wanted to have a better grasp of his influence on American literature.

Why is collage a good medium to represent Hemingway’s life?

I think the ability to easily create abstract and concrete symbols works well to represent his experience. 

What inspirations or life experiences did you draw on for these designs?

I primarily re-purposed materials from my own personal history – paper goods I’ve saved (from magazines, packaging and books) and leftover experiments from my creative practice.

What are you hoping to learn more about in the documentary?

Probably his connection to the art world, since he lived in some creative hot-spots.

Do you have a favorite WFYI program, and what makes it your favorite?

Antiques Roadshow or the Great British Baking show. My cousins and I compete for prizes by guessing the value of items featured on Antiques Roadshow, and The Great British Baking Show is great to unwind to.

Learn more about WFYI's local activities focused on Hemingway, his work, local creativity and even cats today and watch a preview of the film.