Setsuko's Soup Letter Print

Shavonne Yu (b. 1997)
Setsuko’s Soup, 2023
Digital print on archival paper, 8.5” x 11”

Yu pays homage to Hayao Miyazaki's poignant film "Grave of the Fireflies", which portrays the tragic consequences of war on innocent civilians, particularly children. Setsuko's Soup captures the essence of the film by featuring the candy tin that Setsuko hold the water that sustains her life, and ultimately holds her ashes in the final scenes of the movie.

One particularly poignant aspect is the reference to the Japanese candy Sakuma Drops, which Hayao Miyazaki included in "Grave of the Fireflies". The candy company went out of business during World War II due to sugar shortages, and its inclusion in the film serves as a symbol of the scarcity and deprivation experienced by the Japanese people during the war. Meanwhile, Campbell Soup Company has grown to become one of the largest processed food companies in the U.S.

The artist's decision to reference Warhol's famous Campbell's Soup prints is a deliberate nod to the artist's philosophy, and yet this print offers a stark contrast to Warhol's body of work. Warhol depicts the mundanity of American culture, while "Setsuko's Soup" portrays the realities of post-war Japan. The print highlights the disparity between the two cultures and highlights the futility of attempting to create a universal "everyday life" representation in art.