KATHY AOKI: #WISHYOUWEREHERE
Jun 24
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
560 South 1st Street, San Jose CA 95113

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The ever cute and wildly popular Sanrio character can be found on almost any consumer product, including notebooks, lunch boxes, shoes, jewelry, bedspreads, etc. According to the Santa Clara-based artist and historian Kathy Aoki, the Hello Kitty craze and fandom has only escalated over the years, so much so that in 2007 her likeness was carved atop a mountain region and the Hello Kitty Monument was born.

Unfortunately, in 2011, the Monument was demolished due to an excavation of precious minerals that existed within the mountainside. However, thanks to the work and dedicated efforts of Aoki, the memory of the monument lives on for generations to come. Aoki pays homage to the cute, iconic figure and transforms the ICA into the home of a larger-than-life diorama of the monument. In addition, the diorama serves as a prime location for a perfect selfie. Make your way to the ICA to take a photo with the diorama—it’s almost as if you were there! Viewers are invited to check-in at the monument and contribute their portraits to the online archive. The Hello Kitty Monument Diorama and Visitor Center will host audio interviews, video, an interactive map, and artifacts that inform guests about the legacy of the monument.


560 South 1st Street, San Jose CA 95113

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