The Suitcase Project – An Unpacking of Memory, Identity, and Resilience

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The Suitcase Project – An Unpacking of Memory, Identity, and Resilience

What would you take with you if you had to leave your home—right now—with no time to prepare?

The Suitcase Project, created by Vancouver-based artist Kayla Isomura, asks this urgent and unsettling question to yonsei and gosei—fourth and fifth generation Japanese Canadians and Americans—descendants of those who endured the forced uprooting, incarceration, and internment of Japanese communities during the Second World War.

Through a compelling multimedia exhibition of photographs, short films, and interviews, Isomura explores not only what her participants would pack, but also the complex layers of family history, identity, and intergenerational trauma that influence their choices. The project invites us to consider how echoes of the past continue to shape the present—especially for communities whose ancestors experienced displacement, loss, and discrimination.

While the young people featured in The Suitcase Project may never face the same forced removal as their grandparents or great-grandparents, the weight of that history is still carried today. Isomura’s work examines this inheritance—how stories, fears, and resilience are passed down—and asks whether we can ever truly unpack the emotional and cultural baggage left behind by such injustices.

Over 80 participants, ranging in age and background, contributed to this project, sharing their personal “suitcases” and the reasons behind each chosen item. Some selections are practical: warm clothing, important documents, food, and tools. Others are deeply symbolic: family photographs, heirlooms, or objects representing identity and belonging. Each suitcase becomes a portrait—revealing the priorities, fears, and hopes of its owner.

The stories were gathered from cities across British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA, creating a cross-border dialogue about shared histories and divergent experiences. The result is a rich tapestry of voices that connect the past to the present, and link Japanese Canadian and Japanese American communities to broader global histories of migration, exclusion, and resilience.

The Suitcase Project is more than an art installation—it’s a conversation. Visitors are invited to step into the experiences of those who live with the legacy of internment, to consider what they themselves might take in a moment of forced departure, and to reflect on the continuing relevance of these histories in a world where displacement due to conflict, climate change, and discrimination remains a reality for millions.

The Suitcase Project is a reminder: the objects we choose to carry say as much about where we come from as where we are going.

September 20: Guest Speaker, Ed Tanaka – Japanese Canadian Internment Camps

Join the Swift Current Museum from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM as guest speaker, Ed Tanaka, shares personal and family experiences from Japanese Canadian Internment Camps, his family’s journey, and life between Canada and Japan.

This inspiring talk ties in with the Museum's current temporary exhibit, The Suitcase Project, and will include time for questions and open conversation.

Organisateur

Swift Current Museum

The Museum houses a permanent gallery, temporary gallery for changing exhibits, hosts many public programs, education programs and special events. Visitors can search the extensive archives and records upon request for research purposes, as well as visit the Fraser Tims Gift Shop.