Harvard Ed Portal, Harvard University, Allston, MA

Monuments Reimagined

Services

+ Curation

+ Exhibition Design

+ Visual Identity & Design

"What does a word like ‘belong’ mean in a city, state or nation which increasingly discriminates between who is welcome and who is not?" - Katherine Megumi Shozawa

This evocative question posed by featured artist Katherine Megumi Shozawa serves as visual inspiration for the design of the exhibition, Monuments Reimagined, on view at Crossings Street Gallery in summer of 2021 at Harvard Ed Portal.

Shozawa’s neon belong hovers atop a subtle gray circle. The use of this circle as a primary design motif alludes to the concept of belonging: the idea of existing inside the circle versus outside the circle resonates visually and metaphorically. While framed within the vertical mullions of the window, the placement of belong in relation to this off-center circular backdrop suggests a slightly off-kilter effect, appropriate when considered within the context of the exhibition’s themes.

The simplicity of the design, with emphasis on Shozawa’s illuminated belong, allows the the artwork to function as the primary focal point.