Hayashi Studio
Hayashi Studio (1911–1942) was a film photography studio run by Japanese-Canadian photographers in Cumberland, British Columbia. The studio was closed shortly before the internment of Japanese-Canadians, as part of a broader climate of racism and xenophobia at the time.[1]
Beginnings (1911–1919)[edit]
Hayashi studio was founded by Senjiro Hayashi (1800-1935), who immigrated to Canada in 1903.[1] At the time, British Columbia was a hub of mining activity, with a large population of Asian-Canadian mine workers having been established in the 1890s.[1] Hayashi apprenticed with accomplished photographer Shuzo Fujiwara in Vancouver.[1]
Senjiro Hayashi founded Hayashi Studio in Cumberland, opening to the public for business in 1912.[1] The studio provided photographic services both on and off-site, primarily serving Japanese-Canadians living in the Cumberland region.[1] Many of the photographs archived from Hayashi Studio show aspects of integration of into daily Canadian life.[2] There are notable examples of the studio photographing white visitors to the Japanese community as well.[1] Later study of the Hayashi Studio archive has revealed that Senjiro and his successors likely used a Century Studio camera with a Royal 3.8 lens.[2]
This period was also marked by more experimentation with social documentary.[2] Senjiro Hayashi captured the funeral of Ginger Goodwin, a prominent labour activist, in 1918.[2] Modern curators have noted that the photographs challenge traditional preconceptions of Asian immigrants to Canada in this period.[2] Writing in 2000, OCAD University Professor Rosemary Donegan noted that Hayashi was an intimate observer in his subjects' lives, noting his balance between staged studio practice and mobile documentary work.[3]
Changing leadership (1919–1942)[edit]
Following Mr. Hayashi's retirement in 1919, a new photographer recorded only as 'Mr. Kitamura' began running the studio.[1]
Four years later, in 1923, Senjiro Hayashi's former apprentice Tokitaro Matsubushi took over operations.[1] For unclear reasons, the studio closed temporarily in the 1930s.[1] The business was largely revived by an early World War II order for identification cards of Japanese-Canadians from the government.[1]
Hayashi studio permanently ceased operations in 1942, amid rising discrimination and eventual internment of Japanese Canadians.[1] For many patrons and likely employees of Hayashi studio, forced relocation involved a confiscation of property, preventing a re-opening of the studio.[1]
The archives of Hayashi Studio are currently owned by the Cumberland Museum and Archives.[1] Hayashi Studio was the subject of a 2018 documentary.[4]
External links[edit]
- Photography in Canada, 1839 - 1989: An Illustrated History by Sarah Bassnett and Sarah Parsons from the Art Canada Institute.
- Hayashi Studios Documentary on Storyhive.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Bassnett, Sarah; Parsons, Sarah (2023). Photography in Canada, 1839 - 1989: An Illustrated History. Art Canada Institute. ISBN 978-1-4871-0309-5.
- ^ a b c d e Wang, Audrey (2017-09-01). "Mirror With Memory: The Curator's Tour". AGGV Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Donegan, Rosemary (2002). Above ground: mining stories; [catalogue of an exhibition held at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria]. Art Gallery. Victoria: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. ISBN 978-0-88885-202-1.
- ^ "Hayashi Studios | STORYHIVE". www.storyhive.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.