In my research titled "Collective 'De-Fence': Trans-Indigenous Art and Activism in the Wake of the Global Pandemic", I deepened the interrogation into art's role in “speaking back” to empire. This project laid the foundation for my 2023 KAKENHI initiative, where I delved into demilitarization amid escalating military endeavors by the US, Japan, and China. The research contextualized the intertwined narratives of Cold War-era nuclear testing and the persisting climate crisis, with a particular focus on the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The primary research in AY2022 was conducted in Hawaiʻi, centered on diasporic communities, particularly during a period when the Marshallese borders remained sealed post-pandemic. A pivotal aspect of this investigation was to understand how artists and communities were reconciling the increasing militarization against the backdrop of nuclear remembrance and the imminent threat of “disappearing islands” due to sea level rise.

My findings revealed a remarkable resilience and robustness within these communities and artists. While they navigate a landscape rife with challenges, their interpretations of hope emerged as a notable insight. This hope, as documented, was uniquely interlaced with experiences of trauma. Such interpretations became particularly evident as they processed the juxtaposition of past nuclear horrors with present environmental challenges, framed against an intensifying military environment.

Furthermore, it was evident that the artists and communities weren't just passive observers but active participants in shaping narratives, demonstrating resistance, and fostering remembrance. Their artworks serve as both testament and critique, actively engaging with and challenging the dominating narratives of power, empire, and environmental negligence.

This revelation, that hope and trauma can be so intricately connected in the face of multifaceted challenges, became a pivotal discovery of my research. Currently, I am expanding upon this profound finding in the academic year 2023 through my larger KAKEN project, collaborating with local experts and artists to delve deeper into these intertwined narratives and their manifestations in art and community resilience.